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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 02/03/05 HB

SHORT TITLE Civic Engagement Educational Web Sites

SB 305

ANALYST Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$300.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB 304

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

General Services Department (GSD)

Office of Information Technology Management (OITM)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 305 appropriates $300 thousand from the general fund to PED for expenditure in

2006 and subsequent years for the purpose of continued development of the joint partnership of

New Mexico State University and the University of New Mexico for developing the civic en-

gagement web site and 25 community or school civic engagement sites. The bill contains an

emergency clause.

Significant Issues

According to OITM, this program was started three years ago from a grant from the Pew Chari-

table Trust, and the program establishes training and curriculum materials for civics teachers,

students, and the general population. The appropriation is to maintain the website

(

www.nmce.org

).

Senate Bill 305 -- Page 2

PED states the New Mexico Civic Engagement (NMCE) initiative promotes active citizenship

through unique partnership between youths, adult sponsors, communities, schools and universi-

ties, elected officials and citizens. NMCE seeks to capitalize on cultural and regional diversity to

enrich New Mexico’s public and community life. The site is operated by more than 30 schools

and communities,

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $300 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall

not revert.

The LFC FY06 appropriation recommendation is balanced between revenues and expenditures

and any increase in recurring funding must be offset by reductions in other areas of the recom-

mendation. The Legislature must consider all priorities and funding requirements to find reve-

nue to support this legislation.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

PED will have to assign staff to write a joint powers agreement with one of the designated part-

ners to manage the sites. PED’s estimated cost is $3.2 thousand.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

This bill has an emergency clause; however, it specifies the appropriation is for fiscal year 2006

which negates the need for the emergency clause.

PED recommends inserting the following sentence after the word “sites.” in Line 23: The work

of this partnership should align with the New Mexico social studies content standards, bench-

marks and performance standards.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

Funding will end to maintain the website.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

Why does the bill have an emergency clause.

2.

Are other funding sources available.

GAC/lg