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

SPONSOR Balderas

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-13-2006

HB 807

SHORT TITLE NMHU Upward Bound Program

SB

ANALYST Dearing

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$25.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED)

New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 807 appropriates $25.0 from the general fund to New Mexico Highlands University

Board of Regents for the purpose of transportation of students, provision of faculty and other

costs associated with NMHU’s Upward Bound program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $25.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any

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

general fund.

The proposal of $115,800 ($96,800 FY06 recurring with $19,000 base adjustment for FY07) was

submitted to the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) by NMHU.

Legislative Finance Committee recommends no base adjustment and level funding at the

$96,800 level commiserate to the Higher Education Department’s funding recommendation for

FY07 for level funding.

House Bill 807 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rates at which participants enroll in and graduate

from institutions of post-secondary education.

Upward Bound provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college en-

trance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in pre-college perform-

ance and ultimately in higher education pursuits. Upward Bound serves high school students

from low-income families, high school students from families in which neither parent holds a

bachelor's degree, and low-income, first-generation military veterans who are preparing to enter

post-secondary education.

The program at NMHU was one of the original 17 pilot projects in the nation in 1965. It is under

the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Education. Its mission is to help first generation, low-

income students to graduate from high school and enroll in a post-secondary institution of their

choice.

The program pays for students to be bussed to NMHU from communities between Crownpoint

and Raton, and the cost of fuel is rising. The program sponsors excursions within the state to mu-

seums and other places of interest. Finally, educational trips to the NASA space station in Or-

lando, Florida and to Washington, DC are included in the student activities.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The Upward Bound Program at NMHU serves 18 schools in northern New Mexico and about

150 students, who are bussed twice a month to NMHU to receive high school credits in math,

science, English and Spanish. During the regular sessions the students attend classes four hours

a day for eight sessions. The summer classes last for six weeks.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

HB774 appropriates funding for Upward Bound instructional purposes.

HB7 and SB1 - General Appropriations Acts appropriate $96,800 in recurring funds to the Up-

ward Bound program at NMHU.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education pro-

grams within educational institutions in New Mexico have recently been high-lighted as issues

that are at the forefront of both the New Mexico Federal Congressional Delegation’s as well as

the federal Executive’s funding and legislative initiatives. This initiative is an effort to promote

New Mexico’s development of a technically proficient state population that is able to compete in

attracting investment at both the national and global level in high-tech manufacturing, engineer-

ing and research.

House Bill 807 – Page

3

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Upward Bound serves high risk students who need individualized attention and well-rounded life

skills curriculum taught by specialized faculty members. The consequence of not enacting this

bill is that program expansion and improvement plans will necessitate funding through other

sources.

PD/nt