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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 03-07-05 HB

SHORT TITLE UNM Regional Studies Center Scholarship

SB 989

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 appropriations for the University of New Mexico in the General Appropriations

Act.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 989 – Making an Appropriation to the Center for Regional Studies at the University

of New Mexico for Graduate Student Scholarships, Internships, Fellowships, Research Grants,

Documentaries and Library Collections – appropriates $250,000 is appropriated from the general

fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for expenditure in FY06 and sub-

sequent fiscal years for the Center for Regional Studies to provide for graduate student scholar-

ships, internships, fellowships, research grants, documentaries and library collections. Any un-

expended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the

general fund.

Significant Issues

CHE notes that the Southwest Hispanic Research Center’s Center for Regional Studies has con-

ducted a long list of activities, including initiating and coordinating the development of interdis-

ciplinary research projects by university faculty who specialize in southwestern and Hispanic

studies; sponsoring lecture series, symposia, research competitions, colloquia, and conferences

Senate Bill 989 -- Page 2

on timely issues critical to the growing Hispanic regional population; and disseminating research

and other project outcomes by way of working papers, monographs, public exhibitions, and

video documentaries.

1

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

dation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $250,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund

designated for expenditure in FY06 and subsequent fiscal years. Any unexpended or unencum-

bered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The University of New Mexico will retain oversight of this appropriation.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP OR RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriations for the University of New Mexico in the General Appropriations

Act.

BFW/lg

1

CHE overview of the UNM Center for Regional Studies excerpted from CHE’s SB918 response.