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

SPONSOR Garcia

DATE TYPED 01/30/05 HB 156

SHORT TITLE NMSU Alliance for Underrepresented Students

SB

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$250.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates SB96

Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 156 – Making an Appropriation for the Alliance for Underrepresented Students at

New Mexico State University – appropriates $250,000 from the general fund to the Board of Re-

gents of New Mexico State University for expenditure in FY06 to fund the alliance for

underrepresented students. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of

FY06 shall revert to the general fund.

Significant Issues

CHE indicates this request is to permit the match (1:1 match rate) of federal grant funds to in-

crease graduation rates for underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, and

mathematics including minorities and students with disabilities. This is a statewide program

managed at NMSU.

House Bill 156 -- Page 2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

CHE notes that this request was approved by NMSU Board of Regents in the amount of

$250,000 and submitted to the CHE for review; however the program was not recommended for

expansion by the CHE at this time.

The appropriation of $250,000 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

NMSU would retain oversight of the program.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Duplicates SB96

Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriations Act.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

NMSU suggests that fewer students from underrepresented groups will be able to participate in

the program, leading to decreased graduation rates and representation of these students in the

state’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines and, subsequently, in the

high technology workforce.

BFW/sb