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

SPONSOR Gonzales

DATE TYPED 2/14/05

HB 596

SHORT TITLE Taos County Youth Programs

SB

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION

(in $000s)

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$100.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Economic Development Department (EDD)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 596 appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to the Local Government Division

of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) in FY06 for the purpose of contracting

with a nonprofit entity to provide opportunities for Taos youth to overcome personal and societal

problems by learning entrepreneurial skills, studying worldwide economic development while

serving as ambassadors from New Mexico and participating in design and construction training.

Significant Issues:

According to DFA, the Local Government Division would provide the $100,000 appropriation to

Taos County on a cost reimbursement basis. Taos County would contract with "Taos Youth De-

velopment" a 501c non-profit organization for the purpose of helping young people develop hope

and resilience through successfully confronting both personal and societal problems. The Taos

Da Vinci Project focuses on serving the youth in Taos County (ages 13-24) particularly young

people who are struggling to overcome financial, personal or educational obstacles. The funds

House Bill 596 -- Page 2

would be used to train 16 youths from Taos County in international relations, cross-cultural un-

derstanding, political systems, and global economics. Goals would include promoting New Mex-

ico, learning best practices for sustainable development from progressive communities around

the world, and applying the information here in the State.

The Public Education Department (PED) offered the following facts about the Da Vinci Project:

•

Is classified as a 501(c)3 and has area support;

•

Has received $34,875 towards a goal of $76,339 in matching funds;

•

Has an established budget for implementing the program;

•

Has established partnerships with local, regional and international institutions suppor-

tive of and helpful to achieving the program goals;

•

Will send entrepreneurship participants to Bioneers events. Bioneers’ philosophy is

dedicated to environmental awareness, social justice, feminism and political action;

•

Participants will also participate in Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives (ZERI)

projects and training; and

•

Funding has not been requested for construction of the education and training center.

PED also noted that the Taos Da Vinci Project has been in existence for six months and has al-

ready participated in one Bioneers’ Conference in California, launched a logo competition and

produced a calendar highlighting young people in Taos County and organizations that work with

youth. Furthermore, the Project documents all program activities including the number of stu-

dents served, quality of services provided, students’ progress as a result of the program, fiscal

stability and program sustainability.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 would revert to the

general fund.

DH/yr