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 Sanchez, B

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/09/2007

2/16/2007 HB

SHORT TITLE

UNM Health Sciences Center Career Pathways

SB 299/aSEC

ANALYST Moser

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$1,855.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates: HB 660

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

NM Department of Higher Education (HED)

Department of Health (DOH)

Health Policy Commission

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SEC Amendment

The Senate Education Committee amendment makes minor adjustments to the language and

removes the provision of stipends to students. The funding level was left unchanged.

Synopsis of Original Bill

Senate Bill 299 appropriates $1,855,000 from the General Fund for expenditure in FY08 and

FY09 to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico (UNM) for the Health Sciences

Center (HSC). Funding would be used to encourage students underrepresented in the health

sciences to enter and graduate from health or allied health professions programs.

Senate Bill 299/aSEC – Page

2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $1,855,000 contained in this bill appears on the surface to be non-recurring

expense to the General fund. However, this funding is sought by UNMHSC due to the loss of

federal funds that have previously sustained this program. It would appear that this funding is

truly recurring. This issue will need to be clarified as this bill moves forward.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 09 shall revert to

the general Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

These programs strive to build diversity in the health professions by providing underrepresented

students the opportunity to develop the skills needed to successfully compete for admission to

and graduation from health professions programs. The Office of Diversity coordinates the

flagship educational pipeline for New Mexico students interested in medical professions. The

programs have been funded through federal grants from the Department of Health Resources and

Services Administration (HRSA) and the Health Careers Opportunity Programs (HCOP);

however, these funds are rapidly dwindling due to other federal budget priorities.

Both PED and the HED indicate that the educational pipeline begins at the middle-school level

and continues to medical school and includes:

•

Dream Makers Health Careers Clubs (middle school program)

•

Health Careers Academy (high school program)

•

Undergraduate Health Sciences Enrichment Program (UNM undergraduate program)

•

New Mexico Clinical Education Program (pre-UNM School of Medicine program)

HED points out that this proposal was not submitted to the HED by UNM nor was it included as

either a priority of UNM board of regents or in the HED request for funding in FY08.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED indicates that while this legislation is not linked to any specific performance measures for

the PED, stipends for students in the health sciences field may encourage more individuals to

enter into health or allied health professions, which may assist New Mexico and public schools

with the nursing and other health professional shortage. Having a career path may encourage

attendance thus increasing academic achievement.

GM/mt:csd