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	Altamirano		DATE TYPED	01-25-04		HB
SHORT TITLE		NMSU Veterinarian for Animal Research				SB	60
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$200.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation for 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

New Mexico State University, College of Agriculture & Home Economics

No Response

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 60 appropriates $200 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University (NMSU) to employ a veterinarian for animal health research and education services through the Cooperative Extension Service.

Significant Issues

NMSU reports the College of Agriculture and Home Economics does not have a veterinarian on its faculty and is expected to provide information and support to the state’s livestock industries. The addition of this expertise to the faculty would enable NMSU to better serve the information and training needs of its clients in the livestock industry.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200 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.

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.”

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The NMSU Board of Regents did not submit this program expansion request to the CHE; consequently, the Commission did not recommend funding for this program.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. Was this proposal submitted to the NMSU Board of Regents for their consideration?

2. If so, does anyone know why it was not submitted to the CHE?

3. If this proposal was not submitted to the NMSU Board of Regents, why not?

RLG/lg:njw