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	Ingle		DATE TYPED	02-25-04		HB
SHORT TITLE		ENMU Teacher Education Programs				SB	15
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05	Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
	$78.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB 139, HB 31, HB 71 & HB 95

Relates to Appropriation for Eastern New Mexico University in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE) Funding Recommendations for FY05

No Response

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 15 appropriates $78,000 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) to pay for faculty training, travel expenses and course materials for the university’s off-campus teacher education initiative for Eastern New Mexico.

Significant Issues

Reform of public school education measures adopted by the New Mexico Legislature and the New Mexico State Board of Education stress the importance of professional development activities as one of the key activities that can lead to improved student performance. This request supports efforts to improve teacher effectiveness in Eastern New Mexico public schools.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $78.0 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

SB 15 relates to:

SB 139, Continue Re: Learning, a program that has provided professional development activities to schools throughout New Mexico for more than ten year;

HB 31, Mid-School Teacher Science and Math Training, a proposal to provide training for teachers in Northern New Mexico as part of an effort to improve student achievement in these areas;

HB 71, Southeast NM Educational Resource Center, proposes the establishment of a resource center to support the efforts of middle schools that have implemented technical education programs modeled after a program developed by the Career Dreams Foundation, and

HB 95, Math and Science Teacher Development, appropriates funding to the Public Education Department to provide professional development for teachers of science and math.

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, the Public Education Department 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.”

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This program expansion request was not submitted by the Board of Regents to the CHE. Consequently, the Commission did not consider this proposal.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Was this proposal submitted to the Eastern New Mexico Board of Regents for their consideration? Why or why not?
Have any particular school districts been selected for these teacher training activities, assuming the project would be funded?
What off-campus professional development activities are currently being conducted by the university?

RLG/lg:njw