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

SPONSOR King

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-5-06 HB 748

SHORT TITLE

FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE AFTER-SCHOOL

PROGRAM

SB

ANALYST Lucero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$200.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates,Relates to,Conflicts with, Companion to

Duplicates Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Game and Fish Department (GFD)

Public Education Department (PED)

No response Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 748 appropriates $200.0 from the general fund to Children, Youth and Families De-

partment for the purpose of contracting with an in- and after-school program in Bernalillo, Santa

Fe and Torrance counties that coordinates programs with the United States fish and wildlife ser-

vice.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any

House Bill 748 – Page 2

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert to the

general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Recent Public Education Department (PED) “Town Hall” meetings with the New Mexico Part-

nership for Mathematics & Science Education called for increased opportunities for both teach-

ers and students of mathematics to translate knowledge from classroom experience to practical,

timely and relevant applications.

Examples of these opportunities include internships, expanded laboratory experience and field-

work.

Wilderness activities for underserved youth help children learn about the environment. Doing

outdoor activities helps them appreciate the environment they're in and helps them to develop

character.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

HB 748 appropriates funding for in- and after-school programs with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service. The activities will improve student understanding of the biological sciences and provide

valuable experiences both in the classroom and in field experiences.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Field trips may require additional staff and supervisory personnel. There will be additional costs

involved for transportation.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

None

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has Project Wild and Aquatic Wild programs

that provide environmental education and training to teachers and students from K-12. Some of

the funding for Aquatic Wild comes from a federal grant administered by the U. S. Fish and

Wildlife Service. It is unclear if the programs referenced in the bill are the same or similar to the

programs provided by Game and Fish. In discussions with U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they

currently have no existing programs the meet the expectation of this bill.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Southwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service encompasses the four states of Ari-

zona, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with a va-

riety of partners -- other agencies, communities, tribal governments, conservation groups, busi-

ness interests, landowners and concerned citizens in these four states -- to conserve, protect and

enhance fish and wildlife and their habitat for the continuing benefit of the American people.

House Bill 748 – Page 2

The Southwest Region of the Fish and Wildlife Service includes a Regional Office in Albuquer-

que, New Mexico; more than 40 National Wildlife Refuges; 8 National Fish Hatcheries, a Fish

Health Center, and four Fishery Resources Offices; seven Ecological Services Field Offices; 19

Law Enforcement Offices; and five Border Inspection Stations. The Region employs nearly 900

individuals.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides programming conserving migratory birds, endan-

gered species, fishery resources, and their habitats; providing biological advice to other agencies

and industry concerning the conservation of fish and wildlife habitats; enforcing Federal laws

that protect endangered species and other wildlife, including interstate/international trade; work-

ing with landowners and agriculture agencies to conserve wetlands and other wildlife habitat on

private lands; operating more than 2.5 million acres in the region as part of the only network of

federal lands managed primarily for wildlife by the National Wildlife Refuge System

The Torrance, Bernalillo, and Santa Fe area of the state provides important breeding habitat for

enormous flocks of migrating Snow Geese, a large portion of the world's Sand hill Crane popula-

tion, ass well as many other Neotropical migrant and resident species including the familiar

Roadrunner. New Mexico will celebrate IMBD at the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque

with bird walks, bird banding demonstrations, workshops on birding by ear, slide shows, presen-

tations on beginning bird watching and identification, and backyard landscaping for humming-

birds and other birds. Participants can also take part in habitat restoration projects or the North

American Migration Count, an all day bird count being held at various locations throughout Ber-

nalillo County.

ALTERNATIVES

Appropriate to the Department of Game and Fish for enhancement of the Project Wild and

Aquatic Wild programs.

DL/yr