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

SPONSOR Begaye

DATE TYPED 3/15/2005 HB 416

SHORT TITLE San Juan County Youth Program

SB

ANALYST Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$80.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

NM Public Education Department (NMPED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 416 appropriates $80 thousand dollars from the general fund to the Department of

Finance for a continuation of the character-building program for underprivileged and Native

American youths in San Juan County. Any unexpended or unencumbered money will revert to

the general fund at the end of fiscal year 2006.

Significant Issues

According to PED this appropriation supports the FIRST TEE, a national initiative of the World

Golf Federation, whose mission is to create opportunities for young people by providing learning

facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing val-

ues through the game of golf. This is seen as a dropout prevention program because it may en-

courage underprivileged youths to remain in school because of their interest in this sport and also

House Bill 416 Page 2

because participating in a sport helps develop social skills and character.

The goals of the project are to:

Introduce a significant number of local disadvantaged, low-income and minority youths

to the basics of the game of golf;

Teach youths to master the basics of golf and gain the skills they need to improve their

game;

Help youths develop critical game and life skills such as responsibility, respect, courtesy,

integrity, patience, perseverance, good judgment and sportsmanship;

Create an awareness in youths that these skills can also lead to success at school, work

and in all aspects of life;

Assist disadvantaged youths in gaining the confidence and ability to apply these newly

developed critical-thinking skills to everyday situations; and

Instill in youths a sense of responsibility to their families and community and an ability to

better themselves and the lives of those around them.

Studies in the First Tee program indicate that the primary reason more children, and especially

economically disadvantaged children, do not play golf is because of the lack of places that wel-

comed them, places they could physically get to and places that they could afford. The First Tee

program is unique. While many sports teach valuable lessons, this program proactively teaches

lessons for life as part of the basic sports instruction program.

This bill reflects both the state and national understanding that quality out-of-school programs

are beneficial to children during non-school hours.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $80 thousand dollars contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the gen-

eral fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert

to the general fund.

The funding will be used for operating expenses (salaries and fringe benefits for a director and

instructor). Funding impact on the PED is minimal due to use of existing staff time/salary to

monitor the activities and assist in establishing the criteria to be used in evaluating the effective-

ness of the program.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The director and instructor will be responsible for recruiting 1,000 students, providing equipment

and training.

Additional administrative time at PED will be required to develop a JPA and monitor the imple-

mentation of the agreement; however, these costs would be absorbed. The First Tee coordinator

will visit school physical education programs and chapter locations to advertise the program and

identify students. The First Tee program will become part of the physical education curriculum

in schools during school, after school and the summer.

BD/yr