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

Papen

DATE TYPED

01-24-04

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE

 NMSU Nursing Education

SB

25

 

 

ANALYST

Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

$500.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to SB 71, SJM 9, & HB 78

 

Relates to Appropriation New Mexico State University in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE) Funding Recommendations for FY05

 

Response Received From

NMSU, CHSS Department of Nursing

 

No Response

Commission on Higher Education

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 25 appropriates $500 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University to increase admissions and for support of Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs and to maintain the Master of Science in Nursing program.

 

Significant Issues

 

In its analysis, NMSU states that funding this program expansion will help ease the nursing shortage in New Mexico by enabling:

 

  •  increased numbers of students to enroll in nursing programs at both the bachelor’s and master’s program levels,
  • NMSU to offer year-round graduate level coursework at the master’s degree level,
  • NMSU to utilize distance learning to provide courses to students throughout its service region, and
  • Allow the retention of faculty by providing summer employment to those offering summer courses in the College of Nursing.

 

NMSU also reports that:

 

      “New Mexico State University is the only public university providing basic baccalaureate nursing, RN to BSN, and master level nursing education programs within the southern region of the state.  Approximately 250 students are enrolled in the nursing programs at any given time:  The BSN students are approximate 49% Hispanic, 4% Native American and are primarily in the 21-25 years age category.  The BSN-Completion students are older (31-40) but retain a high Hispanic mix (35-40%).  The MSN student mix has fewer Hispanics (21%) and they are also older (26-60 years of age).”

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $500.0 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 25 relates to SB 71, Nurse in Every School Program; SJM 9, Study School Nurse Delivery of Health Care, and HB 78, Health Care Recruitment Funding.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

This program expansion request was approved by the NMSU Board of Regents and submitted to the CHE.  However, the Commission did not recommend funding the program 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):

 

“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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