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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Miera
DATE TYPED 3-07-05
HB 1079/aHEC
SHORT TITLE Los Puentes School Bilingual Education
SB
ANALYST Segura
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
$150.0
Recurring General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Public Education Department (PED)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Amendment
House Education Committee amends House Bill 1079, the amendment re-titles and expands the
program definition from “bilingual education and jobs programs”, to “a community-based multi-
cultural career exploration initiative”. The funding would remain at the Los Puentes Charter
School in Albuquerque.
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 1079 appropriates $150.0 to PED to fund programs for jobs and bilingual education at
Los Puentes Charter School in Albuquerque.
Significant Issues
According to PED;
•
Los Puentes serves 113 students in grades 8-12.
•
60% of the students are English Language Learners and 95% qualify for free-and
reduced lunch program.
•
The school serves students that are either at-risk of dropping out of school or who
have returned to school.
•
Its current operational budget ($1.4 million), based on the 203-2004 average of
123 students, does not provide sufficient funds for either a school-to-work train-
ing program or to develop a bilingual vocational program.
pg_0002
House Bill 1079/aHEC -- Page 2
•
The school receives $11,938 in state bilingual funds, which are used to support bi-
lingual services to 63 identified students. These funds were based on the number
of bilingual students last year (29 students).
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
•
PED indicates that the program will address the core performance measures related to
implementation of education reform initiatives.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
House Bill 1079 appropriates $150.0 from the general fund and is recurring.
In addition, PED indicates the funds will provide:
•
A year-long transition school-to-work program with professional development for staff,
development of a curriculum and on the job training and employability skills for at-risk
students through the Life Work Learning Program. Also, pre-vocational skills to Spanish-
speaking students to assist them in learning a trade to get a job.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
PED would monitor the program and distribution of funds. Any unexpended or unencumbered
balance remaining at the and of GY06 shall revert to the general fund.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
House Bill 1079 requests funds for bilingual programs not covered under state bilingual funds
that the school already receives.
RS/yr:lg