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	Tripp		DATE TYPED	02/09/04		HB	328/aHEC
SHORT TITLE		Science & Math Teacher Training at NM Tech				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$250.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 31, HB 95, & SB 182

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education Funding Recommendations for FY05 (CHE)

Responses Received From

New Mexico Public Education Commission (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee amendment adds the following language:

“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 year period.”

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 328 appropriates $250 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology to continue training New Mexico teachers in

science, mathematics and technology to meet requirements and standards for highly qualified for New Mexico.

Significant Issues

Many New Mexico students are reported to be scoring below national norms in math and science on standardized and on the NAEP tests (National Assessment of Educational Progress). This bill strives to improve student academic performance by providing professional development for teachers in the areas of science, math and technology. This bill provides funding for the second year of the program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $250 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.

RELATIONSHIP

HB 328 relates to:

HB 31 & SB 182, Mid-School Teacher Science & Math Training (identical bills)

HB 95, Math & Science Teacher Development

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Board of Regents of NMIMT submitted two funding requests for teacher education programs: Master of Teacher Professional Development and Master of Science & Teaching Program. Neither program was recommended for funding by the CHE. It is not clear whether this bill address either of the two programs.

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):

“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.”

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