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

SPONSOR Moore

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-3-2007

HB 460

SHORT TITLE Statewide Humanities Program

SB

ANALYST Dearing

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$100.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Cultural Affairs Department (CAD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 460 appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to department of Cultural

Affairs for the purpose of contracting a statewide public humanities program. The program shall

include a historical speaker program and traveling historical exhibits.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100 thousand contained in House Bill 460 is a recurring expense to the

General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall

revert to the General Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Cultural Affairs department provides humanities programs throughout New Mexico by

contracting with the New Mexico Humanities Council, a non-profit formally recognized by the

House Bill 460 – Page

2

federal government as the primary provider of humanities programs in the state. Only 25 percent

of New Mexico Humanities Council’s budget is provided through state funds. New Mexico

Humanities Council works in tandem with the Smithsonian Institution to send historians and

speakers to schools and community groups statewide. The New Mexico Humanities Council

sponsors the state chapter of National History Day. Winners of the National History Day

competition are sent to Washington DC to represent New Mexico (approximately about 40 - 50

kid each year). New Mexico Humanities Council provides grants to non-profits across the state

for public programs to bring scholars in contact with public audiences for dialogue in current and

historic events and public policy. New Mexico Humanities Council programs reach every

county in New Mexico.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 460 would allow an additional 30 Chautauqua programs to serve New Mexico

schools.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Department of Cultural Affairs has been providing humanities programs throughout New

Mexico by contracting with the New Mexico Humanities Council for many years. This bill

would have no significant administration implications for the department.

RELATIONSHIP

House Bill 460 relates to the general appropriation act. Cultural Affairs department’s FY08

budget request allocated approximately $144 thousand for statewide programming and services.

A portion of this appropriation goes to the humanities program.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This request is to increase funding provided to the NEW MEXICO HUMANITIES COUNCIL

by $100.0 in order to cover increased costs of providing historical programs in every county of

New Mexico, as well as to expand services to reach an additional 13,000 New Mexicans. The

program expansion will serve an additional 810 students and teachers statewide participating in

the historical speakers program (Chautauqua Program), and bring a Smithsonian Institution

traveling exhibition to six underserved rural New Mexico Communities, including Belen,

Ruidoso Downs, Hobbs, Columbus, Raton and Las Vegas.

New Mexico Humanities Council’s funding has not increased since 1991. This request for

$100.0 includes $45.0 to cover cost of living adjustments to fund current services provided, and

$55.0 to increase programs and services provided to New Mexicans.

PD/nt