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

SPONSOR Taylor

DATE TYPED 2/08/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Educational Assistant Licensing Framework

SB 523

ANALYST Segura

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$3,800.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

New Mexico School for the Deaf

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 523 appropriates $3,800.0 to establish a four-tiered licensure framework for educa-

tional assistants (EA’s). The bill establishes the requirements for licensure and provides for

minimum salary guarantees statewide for educational assistants at each licensure level.

Significant Issues

School districts must implement a career salary framework for EA’s that supports the licensure

system, including salary increments above the minimums based on training and experience. PED

is authorized to promulgate transition rules and rules assuring that levels three and four meet the

paraprofessional standards of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Senate Bill 523 -- Page 2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Senate Bill 523 appropriates $3,800.0 from the general fund and is recurring. The bill mandates

the following minimum salaries for each level:

Level one- $11,000, (already in effect);

Level two-$13,000, effective in FY06. The Legislative Education Study Committee in-

cludes $3,800.0 in their FY06 budget recommendation under the State Equalization

Guarantee. The Legislative Finance Committee recommends $1,500.0 for the statutory

requirement of $12,000 minimum annual salary. The executive does not make a funding

recommendation for FY06;

Level three-$15,000, effective in FY07;

Level four-$17,000, effective in FY08.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

PED indicates that a minor rule change would be required for implementation and for those EA’s

who meet the standards of level four, a new license would have to be issued. The New Mexico

School for the Deaf would need to amend advertising, hiring, and evaluation procedures, as nec-

essary to reflect the changes.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to PED an EA may be issued a level three or four license if they qualify for those lev-

els, without first holding levels one or two licensure. This is important for recruiting EAs who

must meet the paraprofessional status required by NCLB.

RMS/sb