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

SPONSOR Beam

DATE TYPED 02-28-05 HB 706

SHORT TITLE UNM Engineering Program

SB

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$200.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation for the University of New Mexico in the General Appropriations

Act.

Duplicates SB362

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

No Responses Received From

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 706 – Making an Appropriation for the University of New Mexico Engineering Pro-

gram – appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of

New Mexico for expenditure in FY06 for the incremental expansion of the manufacturing engi-

neering special project funding. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end

of FY06 shall revert to the general fund.

Significant Issues

The graduate-level Manufacturing Engineering Program (MEP), within the University of New

Mexico (UNM) School of Engineering, seeks to:

•

build a nationally-competitive manufacturing engineering program able to meet the

House Bill 706 -- Page 2

statewide demand for high-tech, manufacturing trained students;

•

promote economic growth by facilitating, developing, transferring and teaching new

manufacturing technologies;

•

train students on state-of-the-art equipment;

•

deliver industry-relevant courses that utilize industry expertise; and

•

articulate training, curriculum and facilities with regional community colleges, where

practical.

As UNM’s FY06 Research and Public Service Appropriation Request to CHE indicates:

This appropriation will enable MEP to enhance its academic program and expand op-

erations of the Manufacturing Training and Technology Center (MTTC) cleanroom pro-

ject. A full-function silicon processing line does not presently exist at UNM – or at any

community college or other university within the state – and this initiative will address

then state’s workforce demands in the electronics-manufacturing sector (driven by such

firms as Intel, CTS, Honeywell and Sumitomo), by training New Mexicans for New

Mexico jobs.

This program was not included in the CHE’s 2005-2006 Higher Education Funding Recommen-

dation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200,000 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

The University of New Mexico will retain oversight of this program.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation for the University of New Mexico in the General Appropriations

Act.

Duplicates SB362 in that SB362 also seeks to appropriate $200,000 from the general fund to the

Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for expenditure in FY06 for the incremental

expansion of the manufacturing engineering special project funding.

BFW/yr