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

SPONSOR Jennings

DATE TYPED 03-04-05 HB

SHORT TITLE NMMI Public Safety officer Education

SB 747

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB748

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS)

New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI)

New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 747 – Relating to the Development of Public Safety Officers; Providing for a Schol-

arship Program at the New Mexico Military Institute to Educate New Mexico Residents for Ca-

reers as Public Safety Officers – provides for the development of public safety officers for New

Mexico through the establishment of a safety officer education program at the New Mexico Mili-

tary Institute and provides means for a scholarship program to educate New Mexico residents for

careers as public safety officers. There is no appropriation attached to this legislation.

Significant Issues

This legislation seeks to authorize NMMI and DPS to begin an affiliation so as to allow for the

establishment of a scholarship program – subject to available funding – to attract and retain New

Mexico residents interested in public safety careers in the state.

Senate Bill 747 -- Page 2

PED notes that, presently, students are being recruited by other states that can provide scholar-

ships in public safety education and these students do not return to New Mexico. This initiative

would require that scholarship recipients commit to four years of employment in public safety

careers in New Mexico.

This bill additionally seeks to give the Secretary of Public Safety power to enter into an agree-

ment with the NMMI Board of Regents under which it:

•

would offer public safety officer education scholarships to New Mexico residents,

subject to available funding;

•

may provide criteria for recruiting scholarship applicants and awarding scholar-

ships; and,

•

may provide for internship programs at public safety agencies for scholarship re-

cipients.

Additionally, the bill seeks to enable the Secretary of Public Safety – subject to available appro-

priations – to transfer funds each fiscal year to the NMMI Board of Regents for the scholarship

program.

NMMI indicates that the military environment of the New Mexico Military Institute lends itself

well to those interested in careers in public safety. Further that concentration is on a complete

education curriculum – not just a training program – with the focus on internship programs as an

essential adjunct to the education and training process.

NMMI observes that many of its gradu-

ates have chosen careers in public safety and this program will enhance that relationship

The New Mexico State Police state the following:

A program like this would be a strong win-win situation for DPS, NMMI and

the students involved in the program. This could be an excellent and important

recruiting opportunity for DPS.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Such scholarship students will be obligated to serve in New Mexico public safety capacities as

determined by a formal agreement between DPS, NMMI and the student.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to SB748 in that SB748 seeks to establish a similar relationship between NMMI and the

New Mexico Corrections Department so as to provide for the development of correctional offi-

cers in the state.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

PED notes that language in the Constitution of the State of New Mexico, Article IV, Section 31

[Appropriations for charitable, educational, etc., purposes.] – “No appropriation shall be made

for charitable, educational or other benevolent purposes to any person, corporation, association,

Senate Bill 747 -- Page 3

institution or community, not under the absolute control of the state, but the legislature may, in

its discretion, make appropriations for the charitable institutions and hospitals, for the mainte-

nance of which annual appropriations were made by the legislative assembly of nineteen hundred

and nine” – requires legislative action for these purposes.

BFW/yr