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	Vigil, R.		DATE TYPED	2/4/04		HB	334
SHORT TITLE		NM Highlands Spanish Language Faculty				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$350.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Duplicates to SB 277

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education Funding Recommendations for FY05

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 334 appropriates $350 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico Highlands University to hire Spanish language faculty for various disciplines.

Significant Issues

This bill proposes to fund the activities of Spanish language faculty for activities that include the teaching of bilingual students, preparing students for bilingual interaction in business, producing bilingual teachers and offering a bilingual social work program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $350 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.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This program expansion was not among those submitted by the NMHU Board of Regents to the CHE. Consequently, the Commission did not review it.

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.”

LB/yr:lg