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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 02/24/05 HB 584

SHORT TITLE Native American Resident Student Definition

SB

ANALYST Williams

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

Indeterminate,

but could be

large and esca-

lates over time;

see text

Recurring

General Fund -

Higher educa-

tion funding

formula

Indeterminate,

but could be

large and esca-

lates over time;

see text

Recurring

General Fund -

Cost of tuition

waiver

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

Department of Indian Affairs (DIA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 584 expands the definition of “resident student” for the purposes of tuition payment

and budget and revenue calculations at the state’s post-secondary educational institutions to in-

clude members of Indian nations, tribes and pueblos located wholly or partially in New Mexico

regardless of actual residence prior to acceptance by the institution. The status would apply to

both undergraduate and graduate students attending only those institutions designated in Article

12, Section 11, specifically University of New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands University,

Western New Mexico University, Eastern New Mexico University, the New Mexico Institute of

Mining and Technology, New Mexico Military Institute, New Mexico School for the Blind and

Visually Impaired, New Mexico School for the Deaf and Northern New Mexico State School.

House Bill 584 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

The Department of Indian Affairs notes “HB 584” is an executive agency bill. The proposed

legislation was formally endorsed by the Commission on Indian Affairs.”

Further, the Department of Indian Affairs notes the legislation “would eliminate the instances

where tribal members attend out-of-state universities for their undergraduate studies, and return

home to New Mexico to attend law school, medical school or other post-graduate studies and are

then subject to non-resident tuition.” The extent to which these individuals might be offered a

graduate assistantship which effectively provides a non-resident tuition waiver is not insignifi-

cant.

Note existing statute already authorizes tuition to be charged at resident rates at New Mexico

Highlands University for any Native American who is a citizen of the United States.

Eligible Groups.

Due to the existence of the Navajo Nation non-resident tuition waiver program, the bill would

effectively apply to members of all New Mexico tribes, regardless of residence, at the time of

admission. The Department of Indian Affairs notes “most, if not all, of these individuals and

their children maintain their ties to their traditional homeland and culture and intend to return

directly to their own communities or to neighboring cities/towns”; thus, the potential eligible

population under the provisions of the bill as currently written is quite large.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The bill does not contain an appropriation; however, the fiscal impact would have two compo-

nents. The first would likely be a non-recurring surge of cohorts due to pent-up demand for ac-

cess to higher education opportunities. The second would be a recurring, annual impact of indi-

viduals moving into the New Mexico post-secondary education system. For the second compo-

nent, the fiscal impact would occur in two key areas: 1) general fund cost of each student per

the higher education funding formula and 2) general fund cost of each student receiving a non-

resident tuition waiver. Due to the size of potential eligibles, the general fund cost is indetermi-

nate, but potentially large.

Note in the case of a non-resident tuition waiver, the general fund bears the burden of the differ-

ence between resident and non-resident tuition rates for every student (as is the case for all cur-

rent tuition waiver programs). This fiscal cost occurs because of the interpretation of the CHE

for similar statutory provisions offering non-resident tuition waivers contained within 21-1-3

NMSA 1978, such as Texas 135-mile, athletics and graduate assistants.

According to LFC files, the Navajo Nation non-resident tuition waiver program is currently of-

fered by the Commission on Higher Education in that “all out-of-state members of the Navajo

tribe who reside on the Navajo reservation, as certified by the Navajo Department of Higher

Education, is assessed in-state tuition rates.” Further, a New Mexico/Arizona reciprocity agree-

ment enables students from each state to enroll at designated institutions of higher education in

the other state at in-state tuition rates.

House Bill 584 -- Page 3

According to data from LFC files, the cost of the existing Navajo Nation tuition waiver is $1.6

million in FY06, based on 2002-2004 enrollment data and 2004-2005 tuition rates. Of the total

amount of the cost of the Navajo Nation tuition waiver program, approximately $1.1 million is

accounted for by four-year post-secondary institutions, while just under $600 thousand was util-

ized by students at community colleges. About 65 percent of the total cost of the program was

attributable to undergraduates. Students at the University of New Mexico represented approxi-

mately 52 percent of program costs.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

In its bill analysis, CHE takes the position that if this bill is enacted, CHE regulations would be

revised to extend residency status for tuition purposes for the qualifying group at all public, post-

secondary institutions in the state.

Due to land ownership status, the provisions of this bill may be applicable to the Ute Mountain

Ute tribe in addition to the state’s 22 tribes and pueblos.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The legislation would make higher education more affordable and accessible for Native Ameri-

can students as well as offer associated economic opportunities.

According to the CHE bill analysis “all other non-resident Indian students must meet the criteria

established in CHE regulations to establish residency in New Mexico. These criteria are detailed

in 5.7.18.11 of the New Mexico Administrative Code and include:

1.

Physical resident in the state for twelve consecutive months prior to enrollment;

2.

Financial independence from parents or guardians;

3.

A written declaration of intent to relinquish residency in any other state and to establish it

in New Mexico; and

4.

Fulfillment of at least two “overt act” listed in the regulation. These include proof of

payment of state income taxes, registration of a motor vehicle in the state and several

others.”

ALTERNATIVES

It should be noted this legislation extends a higher education entitlement program; thus, potential

cost would be driven by the number of qualified applicants each year. The legislature might

consider explicit language to authorize a specific amount of funding for qualified applicants as a

mechanism to cap annual costs. Then, the cap could be evaluated on the basis of the demand

and funding availability.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

The Department of Indian Affairs notes the “opportunity to increase the number of well-trained

professional tribal members who could help improve the social and economic conditions of their

communities would be lost.” Further, the Department of Indian Affairs notes the need to stem

the “brain drain” effect.

House Bill 584 -- Page 4

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

Under the provision of the legislation, is it the Legislature’s intent to authorize a non-

resident tuition waiver for the group identified in this bill, for which the general fund

bears the cost of the difference between resident and non-resident tuition for each eligible

student.

AW/lg