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

SPONSOR Nava

DATE TYPED 2/4/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Fiesta Educativa Parent Conference & Outreach

SB 300

ANALYST Hanika-Ortiz

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$15.0

Recurring General Fund

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From:

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 300 appropriates $15 thousand from the general fund to the PED for a fiesta educa-

tive parent conference and outreach activities for parents to learn about significant issues related

to special education, e.g., laws, parent rights, advocacy skills, parent involvement, etc. on behalf

of their children with special needs in the Gadsden Independent School District located in An-

thony, New Mexico.

Significant Issues

Fiesta Educativa is currently in Texas, California and New Mexico. Fiesta Educativa organiza-

tions assist Latino Spanish-speaking families in obtaining services and caring for their children

with special needs through education, training, referral and information.

Fiesta Educativa organizations are committed to the philosophy that persons with special needs

are entitled to the benefits of full integration into their community. In order to accomplish this,

Fiesta Educativa collaborates with all public and private organizations in assisting families to

obtain services.

Senate Bill 300 -- Page 2

The goals of Fiesta Educativa are as follows:

1.

To assist families in gaining knowledge, accessing key resources and understanding

their fundamental rights.

2.

To influence the advancement and rehabilitative potential of Latinos with special de-

velopmental needs.

3.

To increase the consciousness of professionals about the unique cultural characteris-

tics and needs of Latino children and their families.

4.

To expand and develop culturally sensitive programs and services.

The PED reports parent training is required by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education

Act (IDEA) for all local school districts. SB 300 provides funding for parent training for one

geographic area of the state. Area school districts participating in the conference, sponsored by

Gadsden in 2004, were Deming, Las Cruces, Hatch, Columbus and El Paso. About 300 parents,

students, teachers and other professionals attended the conference.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The PED provides services to 51,461 children with special needs throughout New Mexico. SB

300 will help the PED meet its requirement for parent education under the IDEA.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $15 thousand 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

general fund.

The LFC FY06 appropriation recommendation for the PED is balanced between revenues and

expenditures and any increase in recurring funding must be offset by reductions in other areas of

the recommendation. The Legislature must consider all priorities and funding requirements to

find revenue to support this legislation.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The PED will use existing staff to fulfill the bill requirements. If SB 300 is passed, the PED re-

ports the district will offer this conference at no charge to families.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The PED website statistics on the Gadsden Independent School District:

•

14,089 enrolled students

•

2,100 students have disabilities

•

95% are of Hispanic origin

•

40% of ages 5-17 live in poverty

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

The Gadsden Independent School District has held this conference in previous years with other

funding: a PED Special Education Bureau grant from federal IDEA B funds, LEA operational

funds, in addition to parent registration fees. These sources would be approached again if this bill

Senate Bill 300 -- Page 3

does not pass. Considering 40% of children between ages 5-17 attending school in Gadsden

schools are in poverty, there would be better participation if families could attend for free.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Are program fees collected from Texas school districts when New Mexico PED helps them meet

their parent education requirements under IDEA by allowing families from El Paso to attend.

AHO/yr