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

SPONSOR

Balderas

DATE TYPED

02/17/05

HB

543

SHORT TITLE

NM Highlands Total Immersion Language Program

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)

Relates to the Appropriation for New Mexico Highlands University in the General Appropria-

tions Act.

Relates to SB567

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE) (SB567)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 543 – Making an Appropriation to New Mexico Highlands University for a Pilot Pro-

ject to Design and Develop Total Immersion Language Programs – appropriates $250,000 from

the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico Highlands University for expenditure

in FY06 and subsequent fiscal years for a pilot project to design and develop a total immersion

English language program in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and a total immersion Spanish language

program in Chihuahua, Mexico. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end

of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

House Bill 543 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

PED indicates that if this legislation is successful, individuals from different disciplines, includ-

ing teachers from New Mexico and Mexico, will have the opportunity to improve or expand their

knowledge of the Spanish/English language and culture through an immersion program. Lan-

guage immersion programs are recognized as one of the best models for achieving language pro-

ficiency. As general background information, PED further notes that:

•

the Spanish language is the second most commonly spoken language in the United States,

and it is second in the world as a language of business (Source: Spanish Embassy Re-

port);

•

HB212, approved by the 2003 Legislature, requires students (K-12) to be proficient in

two languages (English and a second language, which could be Spanish);

•

New Mexico has been a leader in the nation in recognizing the academic, economic and

social value of being bilingual. Since 1973, the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act has

provided financial support for programs that allow students to become proficient in two

languages, English and a second language (one of which is Spanish), and to succeed aca-

demically;

•

currently, there is a significant need to continue and expand preparation programs for

individuals in various disciplines to become bilingual;

•

NMHU has been an leader in educating and preparing teachers to serve the needs of stu-

dents of Hispanic descent; and

•

for the 2004-2005 academic school year, 174,165 students (53.3 percent of all students)

attending New Mexico public schools are of Hispanic descent (Source: ADS 40

th

Re-

port);

CHE indicates this request was not in the list of priority projects submitted by New Mexico

Highlands University to the Commission on Higher Education for review. Accordingly, the re-

quest was not included in the commission’s funding recommendation for FY06.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED suggests that, if enacted, this legislation would impact a core performance measure that as-

sesses students in grades 3 to 9 on achieving proficiency or above on the New Mexico criterion-

referenced assessments in reading/language arts and math.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

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 a fiscal year shall not revert

to the general fund.

House Bill 543 -- Page 3

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP OR RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the Appropriation for New Mexico Highlands University in the General Appropria-

tions Act.

Relates to SB567 in that SB567 also seeks to appropriate $250,000 from the general fund to the

Board of Regents of New Mexico Highlands University to support an English-Spanish language

immersion program. However, SB567 seeks the appropriation for FY06 with any unexpended or

unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 reverting to the general fund.

BFW/lg