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

SPONSOR Heaton

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/22/2007

3/10/2007 HB 220/aHEC/aHAFC/aSEC/aSFC

SHORT TITLE Mathematics & Science Education Act

SB

ANALYST Aguilar

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY07

FY08

FY09 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

$4,120.0 $4,120.0 $8,240.0 Recurring General

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 2, HB 3

Duplicates appropriations in the General Appropriation Act

Relates to appropriations in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SFC Amendment

The Senate Finance Committee amendment makes technical changes to language to correct a

conflict within the provisions of the bill pertaining to the math and science advisory council.

Synopsis of SEC Amendment

The Senate Education Committee amendment to House Bill 220 as amended deletes an HEC

amendment and removes “for public school students" from language for whom professional

development is provided. See technical issues below.

House Bill 220/aHEC/aHAFC/aSEC/aSFC – Page

2

Synopsis of HAFC Amendment

The House Appropriations and Finance Committee amendment to House Bill 220 as amended

removes all appropriations from the bill.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The Legislature may wish to consider the following technical change:

On page 6, Line 11 as amended by HEC appears to provide that professional development is for

the students rather than teachers. The legislature may wish to consider inserting as follows: for

[the benefit] of public school students" or simply delete the phrase “for public school students".

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee amendment to House Bill 220 adds to the responsibilities of

the Mathematics and Science Bureau, expands the entities to which awards can be made from the

Mathematics and Science Proficiency Fund and denotes professional development programs are

to be for public school students.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

HB220/aHEC expands the responsibilities of the math and science bureau to include the

development and evaluation of curricula, instructional programs and professional development

programs in mathematics and science aligned with state academic content and performance

standards.

The amendment also adds persons to the list of entities eligible to receive awards from the fund.

Item six of the amendment adds “public school students" as the intended recipients of the

services noted in the bill, however the last item in the list is professional development which is

more suitable for teachers and other providers and not students. This language was stricken from

Senate Bill 262 which has similar provisions.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 220 creates the Math and Science Bureau in the Public Education Department,

establishes the math and science advisory council and details its duties, provides funding for

mathematics and science programs and projects, creates the Math and Science Proficiency fund

and makes appropriations.

House Bill 220 appropriates $3 million from the general fund to the mathematics and science

proficiency fund for the purpose of funding summer mathematics, science and reading institutes.

HB 220 appropriates $620 thousand from the general fund to the public education department to

work with national laboratories, other federal science-related facilities, and science and

technology businesses to create internships; and to work with the institutions of higher education

and the mathematics and science advisory council to increase the rigor of mathematic and

science teacher preparation courses.

HB 220 appropriates $500 thousand to the state parks division of EMNRD to support a statewide

outdoor classroom program.

House Bill 220/aHEC/aHAFC/aSEC/aSFC – Page

3

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $3 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall not

revert to the general fund but shall revert to the mathematic and science proficiency fund.

The appropriation of $1.12 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall

revert to the general fund.

This bill creates a new fund and provides for continuing appropriations. The LFC has concerns

with including continuing appropriation language in the statutory provisions for newly created

funds, as earmarking reduces the ability of the legislature to establish spending priorities.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

HB 220 creates the Math and Science Bureau. Funding for the bureau was included in Laws

2006, Chapter 110; however legislation establishing the bureau was not enacted. Funding for the

bureau is included in the department’s operating base. This bill formalizes the duties and

responsibilities of the bureau.

The bill creates the Mathematics and Science Advisory Council to advise the Bureau on

implementation of its duties; to make recommendations to the Bureau and PED regarding the

statewide strategic plan for improving mathematics and science education; advise PED and the

Legislature regarding appropriations for math and science education, administration, resources

and services; and work with the PED to determine the needs of New Mexico public school

students for math and science achievement.

A temporary Math and Science Advisory Council has been appointed; its composition aligns

with the provisions of this bill. They have begun work with the Math and Science Bureau to

create a statewide strategic plan for math and science education that incorporates the

perspectives of the many stakeholders in this issue.

It is important to note that the appropriation to the math and science proficiency fund is for

mathematics, science and READING summer institutes. A similar appropriation with identical

language was contained in the General Appropriations Act of 2006, yet little or no emphasis was

placed on the reading component. It is important not to lose sight of the importance of

improving reading while at the same taking steps to improve math and science.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED reports that the $1.7 million appropriated by the 2006 Legislature for math, science and

reading institutes has already served almost 1,000 math and science teachers in grades K-12 in

nine projects, and more institutes are planned in the Spring and into the Summer up to June 30.

The names of teachers and their schools are being added to a database so that the future

achievement of their students can be compared to their past achievement.

PA/mt