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

SPONSOR Ortiz y Pino

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/27/07

HB

SHORT TITLE

Making an Appropriation for High-Technology

Mentorship Programs at Public High Schools

SB 361

ANALYST Propst

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$230.0

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

Making an Appropriation for High-Technology Mentorship Programs at Public Schools

Senate Bill 361 makes an appropriation of $230,000 in General Fund in FY 08 to the Local Gov-

ernment Division of the Department of Finance and Administration and administered for the

Mid-region Council of Government to establish a high-technology mentoring program at five

public high schools.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $230,000 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 Gen-

eral Fund.

Senate Bill 361 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The mentorship at Robert F. Kennedy Charter School in its first year provided gang preven-

tion/intervention, community involvement and academic activities. The project provides stu-

dents the opportunity to develop educational relationships with professionals in the community,

while developing technical and social skills and encouraging accountability and career readiness.

According to DFA, the $230,000 requested will support the following: 2 FTE director positions;

administration and training costs for other schools in the region interested in this model; educa-

tional stipends for students who successfully complete two years of mentorship; transportation,

equipment and materials costs needed to support this project; protégé and mentor workbooks,

brochures and evaluation costs.

The Mid Region Council of Governments will adopt an application process for high schools to

apply for the mentorship program.

PERFORMANC IMPLICATIONS

DFA reports that this model of mentorship has successfully been in operation at Monte del Sol

Charter School in Santa Fe for six years. Eighty-five percent of the students complete the full

mentorship program and, in the past year, 52 or 53 students have moved on to higher education.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Mid-Region Council of Government will administer this project with Local Government

Division oversight through a grant agreement process. The Local Government Division will pro-

vide technical assistance through implementation of the project.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

$230,000 will not be available to expand the high-technology mentoring program at five public

high schools.

WEP/sb