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

SPONSOR B. Lujan

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/13/2007

HB 809

SHORT TITLE NM Highlands Rodeo Athletic Program

SB

ANALYST McOlash

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$134.4

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 809 appropriates $134,383 from the General Fund to the NMHU Regents for

expenditure in FY 2008 to fund the intercollegiate rodeo athletic program in the following

amounts:

1)

$91,775 for annual competition costs including entry fees, mileage, insurance, room and

board, and competition clothing; and

2)

$42,608 for supplies for livestock used in training

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $134,383 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 2008 shall revert to the

General Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The New Mexico Legislature provided funding totaling $262,785, in each of the 2005 and 2006

sessions, for a rodeo program at NMHU. The first year of the program proved successful with

House Bill 809 – Page

2

student participation as well as support from the university and surrounding communities. The

program used existing rodeo facilities from a private patron. NMHU has been proactive in

securing funding for constructing its own rodeo facility.

This request was not submitted by NMHU to the HED for review, and is not included in the

Department’s funding recommendation for FY08.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Governor’s rodeo initiative provides approximately $647,000 to colleges and universities for

scholarships. NMHU receives $63,400. The state will also fund the collegiate rodeo finals. This

annual event will allow New Mexico’s five public postsecondary institutions with rodeo

programs to face off for the state rodeo title.

Rodeo may be the most uniquely American sport, and it is a rich and vibrant part of New

Mexico’s cultural history. These investments will help get more New Mexicans involved in

rodeo events and promote tourism in rural New Mexico.

BM/mt