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

SPONSOR Robinson

DATE TYPED 03-02-05 HB

SHORT TITLE Management of LANL Feasibility Study

SB SJM 89

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 SJM27

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 89 requests that the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State Uni-

versity, and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology study the feasibility of a con-

sortium of these three institutions of higher education negotiating or bidding for management of

Los Alamos National Laboratory. The memorial resolution notes the following:

•

Los Alamos National Laboratory is one of the nation's leading defense research facilities,

employing thousands of highly qualified persons with a multimillion dollar annual budget;

•

Los Alamos National Laboratory has tremendous knowledge in supercomputing, laser

technology, energy technology, environmental control, superconducting, biotechnology

and material synthesis that could assist the entire country in transforming its industrial

technology base;

•

Los Alamos National Laboratory is currently managed by the University of California, but

that management contract will expire soon; and

Senate Joint Memorial 89 -- Page 2

•

the management of Los Alamos National Laboratory by a consortium of New Mexico's

three research universities may prove to be both more efficient and more beneficial than

having management by the University of California.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The memorial further resolves that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the presidents of the

University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and the New Mexico Institute of Min-

ing and Technology.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to SJM27 in that SJM27 requests the United States Department of Energy to complete a

new contract with the University of California to operate Los Alamos National laboratory.

BFW/lg