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

SPONSOR Gardner

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/13/07

HB 1079

SHORT TITLE Chaves County Character Development Program

SB

ANALYST Propst

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$100.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 1079 appropriates $100.0 from the General Fund to support a character development

program in Chaves County.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100.0 contained in this bill 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

DFA reports that Character Counts! in Chaves County is a nonprofit corporation started by

Senator Pete Domenici and Roswell Mayor Tom Jennings in 1994. The Character Counts!

Program of Chaves County is both an educational and community based program that benefits

and serves the entire county to (1) instill the values of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility,

fairness, caring and citizenship for our children; (2) implement the six pillars of character

through community service projects; and (3) recognize students and adults for their

accomplishments.

House Bill 1079 – Page

2

Some of the programs that are funded through the Character Counts! in Chavez County are the

Annual Character Recognition Banquets, National Character Counts! Week celebrations, Athlete

Recognition & Coaches Recognition Programs, as well as, the “Pursuing Victory With Honor"

Youth Coaches Seminars, and recently added Teachers of Character and Honoring the Badge:

Building and Upholding the Public Trust programs all contribute to the future of Chaves County.

A dedicated and active board of 35 individuals from a wide range of backgrounds continues to

meet monthly to oversee the various activities.

The funds in HB-1079 will pay for operating costs incurred through the Character Counts! in

Chavez County activities. The funds will be used to pay for banquets, workshops, plaques to

children, a scholarship program, and to help finance the June Summer Leadership Camp, where

students from around the state learn community service and leadership skills.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DFA has the staff expertise and experience to manage this appropriation.

WEP/csd