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

SPONSOR Vigil

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/20/07

HB 1117

SHORT TITLE West Las Vegas School "SAFETEEN NM" Program SB

ANALYST Hanika Ortiz

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$17.0

Recurring

General fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 1117 appropriates $17 thousand to the PED to implement a “SAFETEEN New

Mexico" program at West Las Vegas and Robertson High Schools in Las Vegas.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $17 thousand 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.

PED may be required to designate staff to monitor the flow through of and expenditures of

monies and should be able to do so with existing staff.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

PED provides additional comments on what SAFETEEN New Mexico provides for;

1. SCHOOL-BASED DRIVING AWARENESS PROGRAM: Students and high school staff co-

create customized school programs that produce innovative and high-impact experiences for

students around the consequences of unsafe driving behaviors. Components of the program may

include a simulated crash, school assembly, classroom curriculum, a grim reaper/angel of death

House Bill 1117 – Page

2

pulling selected students from class and/or a hands-on learning segment presented during lunch

breaks.

2. SAFETEEN SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS: These coincide with particularly risky

times of the year on a given topic (for example, the safe driving issue during prom season;

depression around the holidays). These campaigns usually consist of broadcast and print media

partnerships resulting in the creation of a television documentary supported by informational TV,

radio and print ads.

3. SAFETEEN YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD: The Youth Advisory Board is comprised of

representatives from across New Mexico that ensures a youth perspective is driving the

SAFETEEN agenda.

•

Dangerous driving behavior decreased in frequency after students attended the

SAFETEEN program at their schools.

•

On average, student driving behavior improved by 14.27%

•

Because students now see themselves as part of a larger community of youths and adults

who can be hurt by reckless driving, they are less inclined to engage in it.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

HB 1117 could positively impact PED performance measures as they relate to schools and

student success, school attendance and graduation rates and enhance student performance as this

legislation could potentially increase the resiliency factors and decrease the risk factors of

youths.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

PED is the administrative agent for this bill. PED would need to establish a budget, approve a

BAR, monitor the project and approve cash requests. This can be done with existing staff.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

SAFETEEN Driver Awareness Statistics;

•

Students who previously rated themselves as relatively high-quality drivers realized that

many of their driving practices were, in fact, extremely dangerous.

•

After attending the SAFETEEN program, self-reported aggressive driving behavior in the

parking lot decreased, while defensive and cautious driving behavior increased.

•

Since it’s inception in 2000, SAFETEEN has raised over $350,000 to produce programs

in 20 New Mexico high schools.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

If HB 1117 is not passed “SAFETEEN New Mexico" may not be implemented in Las Vegas.

AHO/nt