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

Nava

DATE TYPED

01/27/04

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE

NM Alliance for Minority Participation

SB

94

 

 

ANALYST

Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

$250.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

 

Duplicates HB 57

 

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE) Funding recommendations for FY05

 

Responses Received From

CHE

New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 94 appropriates $250 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University (NMSU) to provide a state match for two ongoing National Science foundation (NSF) grants to NMSU.  One grant encourages undergraduate students from underrepresented minorities to complete bachelor’s degrees in science, math, engineering and technology.  The second grant is to encourage student with disabilities to complete bachelor’s degrees in science, math, engineering and technology and participate in public school outreach activities.

 

Significant Issues

 

A request to increase funding for this program by $250 thousand was presented to the NMSU Board of Regents. The regents approved the request and ranked it number 4 among the 9 priority items recommended to the CHE for FY05 funding. The CHE, however, did not recommend the increase.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $250 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.

 

DUPLICATION

 

HB 57 duplicates SB 94.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

In its analysis, the PED states that, in addition to the opportunities offered students from underrepresented minorities, the state and federal funds for this program will impact the quality of special education K-12 programs by providing stipends for undergraduate students with disabilities from all six universities to complete degree working in a science or math field while providing assistance to public school special education teachers who have responsibilities for math and science instruction.  In addition, funding will be provided for experts to conduct workshops for special education teachers, parents and high school counselors on what is necessary for students with disabilities to be admitted to and be successful in a four-year bachelor’s program in science or 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.”

 

RLG/yr:njw