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

SPONSOR Garcia

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-25-06

HB

SHORT TITLE NMSU Science, Math & Engineering Academy

SB 119

ANALYST Dearing

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$200.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates HB 158

Relates to:

SB1 General Appropriation act of 2006

SB38

NMSU Aerospace Engineering Programs

SB120 NMSU Aerospace Engineering Department

SB 121

NMSU Space & Aerospace Research Program

HB7 General Appropriation act of 2006

HB140 New Mexico Space Grant Consortium

HB154 NMSU Aerospace Engineering Program

HB159 NMSU Space and Aerospace Research Program

HB167 Create NMSU Aerospace Research Program

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

Higher Education Department (HED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 119, NMSU Science, Math & Engineering Academy, appropriates $200,000 from the

general fund to New Mexico State Board of Regents for expenditure in fiscal year 2007 for the

purpose of supporting the Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy in order

Senate Bill 119 – Page

2

to improve student achievement and increase participation statewide. Any unexpended or unen-

cumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert to the general fund.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200,000 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.

This proposal was submitted to the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) by

NMSU. NMHED has recommended funding in the amount of $200,000 for this project in FY07.

This proposal was submitted to the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) by

NMSU. NMHED has recommended funding in the amount of $200,000 for this project in FY07,

however, the executive FY06 & FY 07 Special, Supplemental, and Deficiency Appropriation

Recommendations specifies non-recurring funding the program at $104,500.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) at NMSU is a

NASA sponsored organization focusing on elementary, middle, and high schools in New Mexico

that primarily serve underrepresented students in the science, math, and engineering fields. The

goals of SEMAA are to:

•

encourage normally underrepresented students in grades K-12 into the fields of sci-

ence, engineering, mathematics, aerospace, and technology (SEMAT);

•

engage students in inquiry-based learning, research, use of advanced technologies, peer

support groups, and mentoring relationships with professionals in the SEMAT fields;

•

facilitate the successful transition of students from high school to post-secondary pro-

grams in the SEMAT fields;

•

develop partnerships with parents; and to provide opportunities for pre-service teachers to

work with local schools and communities and to assist in-service teachers with imple-

menting curriculum.

Educational Benefit: The Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy program

provides a valuable new educational opportunity and career path for New Mexico’s high school

students and for established workers in New Mexico who wish to pursue undergraduate or ad-

vanced degrees in aerospace engineering. AE program outreach will generate interest and com-

petence in math, science and engineering for K-12 students in New Mexico.

•

SB190 in the 2004 General Session appropriated $104,500 to NMSU Science, Engineer-

ing, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy

•

According to HED analysis, this proposal was submitted to the New Mexico Higher Edu-

cation Department (NMHED) by NMSU. NMHED has recommended funding in the

amount of $200,000 for this project in FY07

Senate Bill 119 – Page

3

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Effective performance will be demonstrated through the following impacts:

Students from southern New Mexico will be given the opportunity to attend eight-week (2-21/2

hours per week) sessions (fall, winter, spring, and summer) of enriched curriculum that empha-

sizes science, engineering, and mathematics with an overarching theme of aerospace education.

Each session is taught by a certified teacher after school at his/her school site. The curriculum

and all supplies are provided by SNM SEMAA for each after school class of SNM SEMAA stu-

dents. Each class consists of not more than 20-25 students.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Duplicates: HB119

Relates to:

SB1 General Appropriation act of 2006

SB38

NMSU Aerospace Engineering Programs

SB120 NMSU Aerospace Engineering Department

SB 121

NMSU Space & Aerospace Research Program

HB7 General Appropriation act of 2006

HB154 NMSU Aerospace Engineering Program

HB159 NMSU Space and Aerospace Research Program

HB167 Create NMSU Aerospace Research Program

This legislation is duplicated by House Bill 158. Senate Bill 119 relates to the aforementioned

list of proposed legislation. This list of related bills has in common the request to appropriate

funding for programs that directly relate to: aerospace, aerospace engineering degree programs,

and NMSU technical, scientific, mathematics, and research programs. SB 119 is specifically re-

lated to elementary, middle-school and high school outreach programs within the field of sci-

ence, mathematics and engineering at NMSU.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to NMSU, program goals are intended to:

•

Provide academic enrichment and career awareness programs for students in grades K-12

after school with a special emphasis in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering,

and technology (SMET);

•

To provide more opportunities for historically underrepresented students (minorities and

girls) to engage in the SMET fields;

•

Provide opportunities for K-12 students to work in a state-of-the-art aerospace technol-

ogy lab on the campus of New Mexico State University.

•

Facilitate the successful transition of students from elementary school to middle school to

high school and then to postsecondary programs in the SMET fields;

•

Develop partnerships with parents and provide skills to work with and encourage their

children in science, mathematics, and technology activities;

Senate Bill 119 – Page

4

•

Engage students in participatory activities, such as hands-on learning, research, use of

advanced technologies, peer support groups, and mentoring relationships with profes-

sionals in the SMET fields.

•

Provide professional development for SNM SEMAA teachers that seek to promote an in-

quiry-approach to learning.

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

grams within secondary institutions within New Mexico have recently been high-lighted as is-

sues that are at the forefront of the New Mexico Federal Congressional Delegation’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, engineering and research.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

NMSU will not be able to continue the SEMAA program at current levels. This could have

a negative impact on encouraging underrepresented students in grades K-12 in the fields of sci-

ence, engineering, mathematics, aerospace, and technology.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

This proposal was submitted to the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) by

NMSU. NMHED has recommended funding in the amount of $200,000 for this project in FY07,

however, the executive FY06 & FY 07 Special, Supplemental, and Deficiency Appropriation

Recommendations specifies funding the program at $104,500.

Is this $200,000 appropriation in addition to the executive recommendation of $104,500.

PD/nt