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committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

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

SPONSOR Stewart

DATE TYPED 2/19/05

HB 853

SHORT TITLE Scientific Research Reading Program Materials

SB

ANALYST Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$5,000.0

Non-recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

$5,000.0

TBD Non-Recurring Reading Materials

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 853 appropriates $5 million from the general fund to reading material fund, created

by the bill, for the purpose of purchase instructional materials for scientific research-based com-

prehensive, intervention or supplementary reading programs.

Significant Issues

PED assesses this appropriation will enable districts and schools to replace current reading pro-

grams purchased in FY 2004, per the state adoption cycle. All reading programs published by

nationwide publishers have a “research base. There are a select number of programs that have

House Bill 853 -- Page 2

been evaluated by the University of Oregon to be the ‘gold standard’ for proven effectiveness.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The bill and the appropriation relate directly to public school support measures in reading profi-

ciency.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $5 million contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining in the reading materials fund at the

end of any fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

Continuing Appropriations

This bill creates a new fund and provides for continuing appropriations. The LFC objects to in-

cluding continuing appropriation language in the statutory provisions for newly created funds.

Earmarking reduces the ability of the legislature to establish spending priorities.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

PED states they would need $3.8 thousand to implement the purchase program; however, LFC

assesses this should available within the agency operating budget.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Page 1, Line 25, strike “money in the fund is appropriated to the department” and insert “as ap-

propriated by the legislature”

GAC/yr