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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Lundstrom

DATE TYPED 02/03/05 HB 69

SHORT TITLE Extend Higher Education Benefits to Spouses

SB

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$30.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation for the DVS in the General Appropriations Act.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS)

No Responses Received From

Department of Military Affairs

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 69 – Relating to Higher Education; Extending Certain Higher Education Benefits to

Spouses and All Children of Deceased New Mexico Military Personnel and State Policemen;

Making an Appropriation – appropriates $30,000 from the general fund to the Veterans' Services

Department for expenditure in FY06 for the purpose of providing the expanded benefits provided

for in this act. The benefits are restricted to spouses and children who are attending or who may

attend a state educational or training institution of a secondary or college grade; and not more

than $300 shall be paid, in addition to free tuition, for any spouse or child for one year. Any un-

expended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the general

fund.

House Bill 69 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

DVS indicates the bill would extend educational benefits to surviving spouses of members of the

military, National Guard, and State Police who have been killed in action. It would also elimi-

nate the age limitation for the surviving children.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $30,000 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 gen-

eral fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DVS will retain oversight of this program and revise the current application to include spousal

information.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation for the DVS in the General Appropriations Act.

BFW/lg