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

SPONSOR Jennings

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-3-06

HB

SHORT TITLE

SOUTHEASTERN NM YOUTH MENTORING

PROGRAMS

SB 368

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$500.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB175, HB744

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 368 appropriates $500 thousand from the general fund to the Local Government Di-

vision (LGD) of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) in FY07 to provide sup-

port for youth mentoring programs through a program that matches at-risk children with care-

fully screened mentors in Curry, Roosevelt, Chaves, Eddy, Otero, Lea and Lincoln counties.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $500 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY07 would revert to

the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Department of Health indicated that a connection to a caring adult other than a parent has

been shown to be a strong protective factor for alcohol and drug use, violence, sexual behaviors,

Senate Bill 368 – Page 2

unhealthy dietary patterns and inadequate physical activity. Mentoring programs are proven

effective ways to create and maintain these connections to promote positive youth development.

According to the Department of Finance and Administration, approximately 95 percent of the

children served in mentoring programs come from single-parent families and over 90 percent are

from low-income families. During the last three years, the number of children matched in-

creased over 55 percent from 1,997 to 3,100.

The Public Education Department offered the following benefits from mentoring programs:

•

Research shows that “adult role models,” “supportive relationship with three or more

other adults” and “adults in community valuing youth” as essential to youths’ health and

well-being.

•

Researchers working from within a risk and resilience framework have repeatedly called

attention to the protective influence of supportive relationships with adults, highlighted

the importance of “one good relationship,” and discussed the critical importance of sig-

nificant adults in promoting the healthy development of highly stressed youths.

•

Mentoring relationships can positively influence a range of outcomes, including im-

provements in peer and parental relationships, academic achievement and self-concept, as

well as lower recidivism rates among juvenile delinquents and reduced substance abuse.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED noted that, if passed, SB368 may positively impact the academic achievement of youths

participating in the program by improving attendance, resulting in improved reading and math

scores and increasing the graduation rate of students in New Mexico.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DFA indicated that agency will conduct a good faith review of mentoring programs, and will

most likely provide a sole source contract to the Big Brothers Big Sisters programs (BBBS) in

Southeastern New Mexico. Similar appropriations for youth mentoring programs have been

used in this way over the past five years. The average annual cost per adult/child match is

$1,000. Half of that $1,000 is used by BBBS for recruitment, screening, training, and matching

of adults to at-risk children. The other half is used for professional support and monthly moni-

toring of the adult/child relationship.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to SB175, HB744.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

DFA indicated that currently, the BBBS programs in Southeastern New Mexico have waiting

lists of up to 100 at-risk children, but no volunteers to fill the role of adult mentor. Without addi-

tional funding for outreach, recruitment, and monitoring, these children, along with approxi-

mately 400 more will not be matched with an adult mentor, putting them at greater risk to start

using drugs, drinking, acting violently, and skipping school.

DH/yr