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

SPONSOR Swisstack

DATE TYPED 2/08/05

HB 465

SHORT TITLE Albuquerque Science and Engineering Fair

SB

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION

(in $000s)

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$300.0

Non-Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 465 appropriates $300,000 from the general fund to the Department of Finance and

Administration (DFA) for a science and engineering fair in the city of Albuquerque.

Significant Issues

According to the Public Education Department (PED), HB465 supports the Intel International

Science and Engineering Fair, to be held in Albuquerque in 2007. The international fair is ex-

pected to bring 1,400 students from 38 countries to compete for over $3,000,000 in scholarships

and prizes. PED noted that science fairs have served students, teachers and parents in New Mex-

ico since 1959. Because of strong regional and statewide support for science fairs, Albuquerque

has been chosen to host the 2007 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. This effort

received support from community and business leaders, parents and teachers and the State. This

fair contributes to improving the quality of science education, increasing male, female and mi-

nority student interest in science, providing recognition for achievement and performance in sci-

ence by students and teachers and showcasing New Mexico’s research and development organi-

zation.

House Bill 465 -- Page 2

By means of background (from PED), students compete in a series of fairs, beginning with local

fairs held in individual schools, to qualify for participation in the international fair. The 2004

Northwest New Mexico (NWNM) Regional Science and Engineering Fair, held at the University

of New Mexico, hosted 870 students competing with 816 projects. The NWNM fair qualifies ap-

proximately 180 projects to compete in the New Mexico State Science and Engineering Fair held

at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Sixteen finalists from the regional and state

fairs went on to compete in the 2004 International Science and Engineering Fair in Portland,

Oregon. Fourteen New Mexico finalists received a total of $114,000 in bonds, scholarships, trips

and cash awards at the international fair.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $300,000 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 would revert to

the general fund.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The International Science and Engineering Fair will occur in 2007. Although the state is re-

quired to identify substantial funding in 2006, it may be advisable to have this appropriation re-

vert at the end of FY07 in the event that all funds are not spent by June 30, 2006.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to DFA, the estimated fiscal benefit to the state would include 10,000 room nights, an

economic impact of $8-10 million and attract over 5,000 people to New Mexico from forty dif-

ferent countries, as well as provide educational benefits for New Mexico students and educa-

tional institutions.

DH/sb/njw