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

SPONSOR Rodriquez

DATE TYPED 2/11/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Acequia Madre School Bilingual Program

SB 628

ANALYST Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$25.0

Non-Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 628 appropriates $25 thousand from the general fund to PED for the purpose of es-

tablishing and supporting a bilingual program at Acequia Madre Elementary School in Santa Fe.

Significant Issues

PED reports there are 21 schools and 2 charters in Santa Fe implementing approved bilingual

programs. Funding for bilingual education programs is based on prior-year student numbers.

Consequently, no current-year funding is available for new programs. Only districts with no bi-

lingual programs are eligible for funding for new programs. This bill would cover the costs for

Acequia Madre Elementary School to implement a new bilingual program. Subsequent year

funding would be through the state equalization guarantee.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

A bilingual program may improve student performance in reading and language arts.

Senate Bill 628 -- Page 2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $25 thousand contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general

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

revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The bilingual program needs to be approved by PED and number of students reported in the Ac-

countability Data System.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

Acequia Madre Elementary School will not have funding to establish a bilingual program.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

How are new bilingual programs established in schools where other schools in the district

already have the programs.

GAC/sb