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	Irwin		DATE TYPED	2/3/04		HB	342
SHORT TITLE		WNMU Web-Based Teacher Licensure				SB
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
$641.6				Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Duplicates HB 353 except for fiscal years & an emergency clause

Relates to SB 15

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education Funding Recommendations for FY05 (CHE)

Response Received From

New Mexico Department of Public Education (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 342 appropriates $641.6 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of Western New Mexico University (WNMU) for expenditure in FY04 and FY05 to establish a network for web-based teacher licensure.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

Significant Issues

WNMU’s service region includes much of a broad, sparsely populated area of western New Mexico. According to the PED, The funds appropriated in HB 342 would provide WNMU with the means to build the infrastructure required to implement on-line and distance education teacher preparation courses throughout its region and state. WNMU offers undergraduate and alternative teacher preparation courses leading to licensure in elementary, secondary, special education and career and technology teacher education. In addition, WNMU offers graduate level education courses. Such a program would increase access and availability to undergraduate and graduate students who cannot easily travel to Silver City or Gallup for courses in education. WNMU’s College of Education is particularly focusing on increasing access for students in rural areas and the Navajo Nation Teacher Education Consortium, which is working to increase the number of Navajo teachers in secondary education.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $641.6 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the general fund.

DUPLICATION AND RELATIONSHIP

HB 342 duplicates HB 353 except that HB 353 appropriates for FY04 and FY05 and carries an emergency clause.

Relates to SB 15, ENMU Teacher Education Program, and appropriates $78 thousand to ENMU for a distance learning program

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The CHE submits that the program is not really a teacher licensure program but a teacher preparation program that may lead to licensure. As stated now, it would appear that WNMU would license the teachers. Please see amendments.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The PED reports that over the past several years, bills similar to HB 342 have been proposed for WNMU to implement web-based and distance education courses. These bills were approved by the Legislature, but then were vetoed by the Governor. In 2003 the bill passed the House Education Committee and a bill was passed and signed into law for a similar program at New Mexico State University during the 2003 session.

AMENDMENTS

The PED recommends changing the word “licensure” in lines 12 and 19 to “preparation.”

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/lg:njw