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

SPONSOR Beffort

DATE TYPED 01/26/05 HB

SHORT TITLE Interactive Dental Distance Education Program

SB 131

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$45.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation for the New Mexico Department of Health in the General Appropria-

tions Act.

Relates to SB3

Duplicates HB107

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Department of Health (DOH)

New Mexico Association of Community Colleges (NMACC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 131 – Making an Appropriation for an Interactive Distance Education Program to

Teach Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting Statewide – would appropriate $45,000 from the

general fund to the Department of Health (DOH) in fiscal year 2006 to contract with a statewide

association of community colleges to develop and implement an interactive distance education

program to teach dental hygiene and dental assisting statewide. Any unexpended or unencum-

bered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 would revert to the general fund.

Significant Issues

DOH notes that New Mexico is currently experiencing a shortage of oral health professionals.

Further, that the Governor’s Oral Health Council recently submitted its workforce development

Senate Bill 131 -- Page 2

findings to the governor wherein it recommended an increase in funding for the distance learning

education program. Additionally, DOH indicates that members of New Mexico’s congressional

delegation have secured a 2004 federal appropriation of $250,000 to develop and implement an

interactive distance education program for dental hygienists and dental assistants.

NMACC suggests that New Mexico ranks near the bottom of the fifty states in dental hygienists

per capita population, and the New Mexico Health Policy Commission estimates New Mexico

needs 228 new hygienists to meet the national guidelines of 1 hygienist to 2000 population.

There are currently two hygienist programs in the state – one at San Juan College, the other at

the University of New Mexico – and together they produces about 30-40 graduates per year.

NMACC additionally indicates the funds appropriated in this bill will be used to match federal

funds earmarked for the development and implementation of an interactive distance dental edu-

cation program. One way of doing this is to utilize existing programs and perhaps one or two

new programs to serve more rural communities on an as needed basis through an interactive dis-

tance education network. These funds will be used to match earmarked federal funds for this

purpose to develop and implement this interactive distance education program.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

DOH observes that the appropriation proposed in SB131 is consistent with the department’s stra-

tegic plan: Program Area 9, Strategic Direction: Achieve excellence and accountability in ad-

ministration and service; Objective 3: Increase the health workforce supply, in collaboration with

other entities in New Mexico.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $45,000 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

DOH notes that although SB131 would increase workload in the areas of procurement, contract-

ing and program monitoring, it could be administered with current staff.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation for the New Mexico Department of Health in the General Appropria-

tions Act.

Relates to SB3

Duplicates HB107

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Expertise in the area of interactive education protocols will need to be developed.

BFW/yr