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 Rodriguez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/31/07

HB

SHORT TITLE High School Mock Trial Program

SB 412

ANALYST A. Guambaña

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

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 412 appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the Board of Regents of the

University of New Mexico for the School of Law to conduct the New Mexico High School Mock

Trial Program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 08 shall revert to the

General Fund.

HED states that this request was not submitted by UNM to the Department for review and is not

included in their funding recommendation for FY 08. However, HED recommended level

funding of $82,700 for this project for FY 08.

Senate Bill 412 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

HED maintains that the UNM Mock Trial program is a hands-on experience for high school

students to acquire a working knowledge of the judicial system, develop analytical abilities and

communication skills, and gain an understanding of obligations and responsibilities as

participating members of society. Per HED, this program impacts more than 200 high school

students throughout New Mexico.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED states that although there is no direct implication to the PED performance measures, these

funds do support student attainment of the New Mexico Social Studies Content Standards,

Benchmarks, and Performance Standards.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to HED, this year's case problem is a criminal matter dealing with the production and

abuse of methamphetamine, which Governor Richardson identified as the number one illegal

drug problem in the state. In February, teams try cases before judges and panels of jurors in

courtrooms in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. In March, the eight finalists meet in Albuquerque to

identify the state champion, who will then represent New Mexico at the national championship

in May. Last year Cibola High School was the state champion and placed 13

th

in the national

finals in Oklahoma City.

AG/mt