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

SPONSOR Altamirano

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/23/07

HB

SHORT TITLE

Making an Appropriation for Youth Mentoring in

Unserved and Underserved Counties

SB 129

ANALYST Propst

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$2,000.0

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

Senate Bill 129 makes an Appropriation for Youth Mentoring Programs in Unserved and

Underserved Counties.

SB 129 appropriates $2,000.0 in General Fund to the Local Government Division of The

Department of Finance and Administration for the purpose of expanding youth mentoring

programs to unserved and underserved counties in the state.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $2,000,000 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

The Local Government Division of DFA has identified the non-profit organization, Big Brothers

Big Sisters of New Mexico, as a likely candidate for receiving the appropriation. However, the

Senate Bill 129 – Page

2

Division plans on following the procurement code by issuing an RFP or developing a sole source

determination.

As reported on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern New Mexico website

(www.bbbsnorthernnm.org), a recent study conducted by a national research firm (Public/Private

Ventures (PP/V)) examined the impact of the program on youth and found that when compared

to their peers, Little Brothers and Little Sisters who met with their Big Brothers or Sisters for at

least one year were:

- 46% less likely to start using drugs;

- 27% less likely to start drinking;

- 33% less likely to act violently;

- 52% less likely to skip a day of school, and earned higher grades.

The outcome, almost across the board, was significantly higher for minority youth. The study

reported that minority boys are 67% less likely to start using drugs, and minority girls are 72%

less likely to start using drugs as a result of youth mentoring programs.

In 2006 BBBS matched 3,100 at-risk children with adult mentors. If they are awarded this

funding, they plan to match 5,100 or more children in fiscal year 2008. Additionally, they plan to

expand the reach of the program to previously unserved and underserved areas, by reaching

children in every county in New Mexico.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The funds will be administered through the Local Government Division, which has the staff and

knowledge to fund and monitor this project.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

An additional $2,000.0 will not be available for youth mentoring programs and it is possible that

at risk children in remote and/or unserved and underserved communities will not have an

opportunity to be matched with an adult mentor, and will be less likely to finish school and more

likely to start using drugs and alcohol.

WEP/nt