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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Park
DATE TYPED 01/26/05 HB 107
SHORT TITLE Interactive Dental Distance Education Program
SB
ANALYST Woods
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
$45.0
Recurring General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to the appropriation for the New Mexico Department of Health in the General Appropria-
tions Act.
Relates to SB3
Duplicates SB131
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
New Mexico Department of Health (DOH)
New Mexico Association of Community Colleges (NMACC) (SB131)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 107 – Making an Appropriation for an Interactive Distance Education Program to
Teach Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting Statewide – would appropriate $45,000 from the
general fund to the Department of Health (DOH) in fiscal year 2006 to contract with a statewide
association of community colleges to develop and implement an interactive distance education
program to teach dental hygiene and dental assisting statewide. Any unexpended or unencum-
bered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 would revert to the general fund.
Significant Issues
DOH notes that New Mexico is currently experiencing a shortage of oral health professionals.
Further, that the Governor’s Oral Health Council recently submitted its workforce development
pg_0002
House Bill 107 -- Page 2
findings to the governor wherein it recommended an increase in funding for the distance learning
education program. Additionally, DOH indicates that members of New Mexico’s congressional
delegation have secured a 2004 federal appropriation of $250,000 to develop and implement an
interactive distance education program for dental hygienists and dental assistants.
NMACC suggests that New Mexico ranks near the bottom of the fifty states in dental hygienists
per capita population, and the New Mexico Health Policy Commission estimates New Mexico
needs 228 new hygienists to meet the national guidelines of 1 hygienist to 2000 population.
There are currently two hygienist programs in the state – one at San Juan College, the other at
the University of New Mexico – and together they produce about 30-40 graduates per year.
NMACC additionally indicates the funds appropriated in this bill will be used to match federal
funds earmarked for the development and implementation of an interactive distance dental edu-
cation program. One way of doing this is to utilize existing programs and perhaps one or two
new programs to serve more rural communities on an as needed basis through an interactive dis-
tance education network. These funds will be used to match earmarked federal funds for this
purpose to develop and implement this interactive distance education program.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
DOH observes that the appropriation proposed in HB107 is consistent with the department’s
strategic plan: Program Area 9, Strategic Direction: Achieve excellence and accountability in
administration and service; Objective 3: Increase the health workforce supply, in collaboration
with other entities in New Mexico.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $45,000 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
DOH notes that although HB107 would increase workload in the areas of procurement, contract-
ing and program monitoring, it could be administered with current staff.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Relates to the appropriation for the New Mexico Department of Health in the General Appropria-
tions Act.
Relates to SB3
Duplicates SB131
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Expertise in the area of interactive education protocols will need to be developed.
BFW/yr