Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us). Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR	Garcia, M.H.		DATE TYPED	01/30/04		HB	56/aHEC
SHORT TITLE		NMSU Rural Health Awareness Program				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

$260.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Duplicates SB 24

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE) Funding Recommendations for FY05

Responses Received From

CHE

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

Department of Health (DOH)

NMSU, College of Agriculture and Home Economics (NMSU)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee Amendment adds a program evaluation requirement that reads as follows:

“The institution receiving the appropriation in this bill shall submit a program evaluation to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on Higher Education by August 2007 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from having implemented this program over a three period.”

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 56 appropriates $260 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of NMSU to expand the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Rural Health Awareness program.

Significant Issues

The proposed expansion for this statewide program would provide additional personnel to work with local health and social service agencies to conduct health assessments, disseminate health information and provide training for increased personal responsibility for health care, with an emphasis on chronic disease prevention and maintenance. Generally, this program espouses the efficacy of healthy life styles. This program and its expansion are viewed as potential savings in both economic and social costs.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

According to the DOH analysis, HB 56 is aligned with the DOH Strategic Plan, Program Area 2: Health Infrastructure, Goal B: Assure access to and quality of basic health systems such as primary care, rural health (including community hospitals), and school health services, Objective 1: Establish mechanisms to enhance community health improvement processes, Strategy 1.1: Provide planning, technical, and financial support for the development of primary care and rural health systems.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $260 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY05 shall revert to the general fund.

DUPLICATION, RELATIONSHIP

SB 24 duplicates HB 56.

NMSU reports that institutional collaboration within New Mexico will be an important component of this program, especially in the delivery of hard to reach rural audiences. Resource sharing with public schools, government agencies, and the private sector will be vital to the success of this project. The CES is uniquely poised to quickly develop and deliver meaningful educational programs because of its existing presence and recognition in all counties in the state.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This program expansion request was reviewed by the NMSU Board of Regents and was ranked number 7 among the 9 priority recommendations for funding submitted to the CHE. The CHE did not recommend funding for the expansion.

AMENDMENTS

The following language is suggested for all new recurring higher education programs and expansion of current programs (assuming that funding will continue beyond FY05):

RLG/lg:dm