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

SPONSOR Taylor, James

DATE TYPED 02-12-05 HB

SHORT TITLE NM Highlands Athletic Progams

SB 526

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$250.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico Highlands University in the General Appropriations

Act.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

No Response Received From

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 526 – Making an Appropriation for Athletic Programs at New Mexico Highlands

University – appropriates $250,000 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mex-

ico Highlands University for expenditure in FY06 for the following purposes:

•

$100,000 for a men’s wrestling program; and

•

$150,000 for a women’s rodeo program.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

Senate Bill 526 -- Page 2

Significant Issues

New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) indicates that it is affiliated with the National Col-

legiate Athletic Association (NCAA) while competing at the Division II level. It is also a mem-

ber of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) which includes 14 institutions in Colo-

rado, Nebraska, Kansas and New Mexico. NMHU has ten athletic programs:

•

men participate in football, cross country, basketball and baseball; while

•

women participate in cross country, track, volleyball, soccer, basketball and softball.

This bill will permit NMHU to enhance its athletics curriculum with the addition of men’s wres-

tling and women’s rodeo programs.

This initiative was not included in the CHE’s 2005-2006 Higher Education Funding Recommen-

dation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200,000 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

New Mexico Highlands University will retain oversight of this program.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation for New Mexico Highlands University in the General Appropriations

Act.

BFW/lg