Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR Miera

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/13/2007

HB 844

SHORT TITLE Albuquerque Community Schools

SB

ANALYST Aguilar

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$975.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates SB 696

Relates to SB 150; SB 694; HB 862; HB865;

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

Higher Education Department (HED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 844 appropriates $650 thousand from the general fund to the Public Education

Department and $325 thousand to the University of New Mexico for supporting community

schools in Albuquerque.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $975 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.

The LFC remains concerned with funding initiatives outside of the funding formula as it tends to

disequalize school funding and diverts funding away from core educational needs.

House Bill 844 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

House Bill 844 appropriates $975 from the general fund as follows:

•

500 thousand to the Public Education Department (PED) to replace federal funds for 21

st

Century Community Learning Centers at Barelas, Kirtland, La Luz and Whitter

elementary schools in the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS);

•

$150 thousand to PED for APS to amend its facilities master plan to identify community

school facilities at each school site;

•

$175 thousand to the board of regents of the University of New Mexico (UNM) for the

college of education to train APS’ community coordinators, principals, other key staff,

volunteers and community members;

•

$50 thousand to the board of regents of UNM for students at the college of education to

create and maintain a database of existing community schools programs; and,

•

100 thousand to the board of regents of UNM for students at the college of education to

provide other services to APS’ community schools program.

PED reports that the federal 21

st

Century Community Learning Centers program supports the

creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities for

children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The

programs help students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects such as

reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement

their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the

families of participating children.

21

st

Century grants are awarded for five years. Projects receive a 20 percent reduction in funding

in year four and a 40 percent reduction in year five. Each grantee is required to implement a

financial sustainability plan. The $500 thousand appropriation would supplement federal 21

st

Century funding in APS in FY 08, the last year of funding for its grant programs.

PA/csd