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

SPONSOR Lopez

DATE TYPED 2/25/2005 HB

SHORT TITLE Satellite Early Childhood Training Programs

SB 459

ANALYST Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$1,500.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 229; HB 337; HB 508; HB 554; SB 253; SB 254; SB 360; SB 458

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

NM Public Education Department (NMPED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 459 appropriates $1.5 million from the general fund to CYFD for expenditure in

FY05 and FY06 to support satellite early childhood training and professional development pro-

grams to reach rural communities more efficiently. The bill declares an emergency.

Significant Issues.

PED notes that rural communities do not have easy access to professional development and tech-

nical assistance for early childhood programs. Many of these communities also lack adequate

available local resources to provide these services. High-quality technical assistance and profes-

sional development are necessary to meet state and national program and staff licensing require-

ments.

Senate Bill 459 Page 2

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

By increasing the availability of training and technical assistance to early childhood education

programs in rural areas, the number of child care programs prepared to participate in the AIM

HIGH quality initiative is expected to increase. The number of eligible programs participating

in AIM HIGH is a CYFD performance measure.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $1.5 million 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

CYFD currently contracts with Training and Technical Assistance Programs in Early Care and

Education, Family Support, School-Age Care. The bill would expand the availability of services

provided through the existing training system by establishing rural area satellite offices.

RELATIONSHIP

SB 459 relates to the following:

•

SB458 short titled “CYFD Early Childhood Aim High Program”

•

HB508 short titled “CYFD Early Childhood Programs”

•

HB337 short titled “Pre-Kindergarten Act”

•

HB379 short titled “Expand Family Development Program”

•

SB253 short titled “Statewide Family Development Program Training”

•

SB124 short titled “Autistic Student School Personnel Development”

•

SB360 short titled “Pre-Kindergarten Act”

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The HPC indicates that “Satellite system” could be further specified to define what kinds of pro-

fessional development training and early childhood programs it might include. For instance, it

would be good to clarify if these could be on-site training, direct consultation, orientations,

online courses, etc… Also, it would be good to specify any requirements the trainings or pro-

grams must meet to be funded by the appropriation.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The bill would support the PRE-K initiative by building a knowledgeable early childhood work-

force in rural areas of the State..

Findings and recommendations from the “Quality of Child Care for ALL: Statewide Task Force”

(presented to CYFD July 2004):

•

It is estimated that 15 – 20% of early childhood population is at high risk for developing

a disability or being delayed. Trained child-care workers may be able to help identify

Senate Bill 459 Page 3

these at-risk children early on so that support services can begin sooner.

•

Integrating children with disabilities into early childhood care settings can often depend

on a “well-prepared and well-trained staff”.

•

Designing a “hybrid model” (based on components of Head Start, Early Intervention,

AIM High, and Project Jericho) was recommended to address quality of child-care. Some

particular areas of concern that would be addressed include the lacking of training and

compensation for professionals in child-care service.

•

The task force recommends funding for local training and technical support for child-care

providers. TTAPs, FIT and PED programs do not meet the current needs for training and

technical assistance.

BD/lg