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

SPONSOR Nava

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/8/2007

2/17/2007 HB

SHORT TITLE Mathematics & Science Education Act

SB 552/aSEC/aSFC

ANALYST Aguilar

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 220, HB 2, HB 3

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SFC Amendment

The Senate Finance Committee amendment to Senate Bill 552 as amended removes the

appropriations.

Synopsis of SEC Amendment

The Senate Education Committee Amendment to Senate Bill 552 makes technical corrections to

punctuation, and removes the term “for public school students" from a description for

professional development included as an authorized use of the Mathematics and Science

Proficiency Fund.

Senate Bill 552/aSEC/aSFC – Page

2

Synopsis of Original Bill

Senate Bill 552 creates the Math and Science Bureau in the Public Education Department,

establishes the math and science advisory council and details its duties, provides funding for

mathematics and science programs and projects, creates the Math and Science Proficiency fund

and makes appropriations.

Senate Bill 552 appropriates $3 million from the general fund to the mathematics and science

proficiency fund for the purpose of funding summer mathematics, science and reading institutes.

SB 552 appropriates $620 thousand from the general fund to the public education department to

work with national laboratories, other federal science-related facilities, and science and

technology businesses to create internships; and to work with the institutions of higher education

and the mathematics and science advisory council to increase the rigor of mathematic and

science teacher preparation courses.

SB 552 appropriates $500 thousand to the state parks division of EMNRD to support a statewide

outdoor classroom program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $3 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall not

revert to the general fund but shall revert to the mathematic and science proficiency fund.

The appropriation of $1.12 million contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall

revert to the general fund.

This bill creates a new fund and provides for continuing appropriations. The LFC has concerns

with including continuing appropriation language in the statutory provisions for newly created

funds, as earmarking reduces the ability of the legislature to establish spending priorities.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

SB 552 creates the Math and Science Bureau. Funding for the bureau was included in Laws

2006, Chapter 110; however legislation establishing the bureau was not enacted. Funding for the

bureau is included in the department’s operating base. This bill formalizes the duties and

responsibilities of the bureau which include among others the requirement to develop a statewide

strategic plan for math and science education, recommend funding mechanisms, promote

partnership and to develop and evaluate curriculum, instructional programs and professional

development programs in math and science aligned with the state academic content and

performance standards.

The bill creates the Mathematics and Science Advisory Council to advise the Bureau on

implementation of its duties; to make recommendations to the Bureau and PED regarding the

statewide strategic plan for improving mathematics and science education; advise PED and the

Legislature regarding appropriations for math and science education, administration, resources

and services; and work with the PED to determine the needs of New Mexico public school

Senate Bill 552/aSEC/aSFC – Page

3

students for math and science achievement.

A temporary Math and Science Advisory Council has been appointed; its composition aligns

with the provisions of this bill. They have begun work with the Math and Science Bureau to

create a statewide strategic plan for math and science education that incorporates the

perspectives of the many stakeholders in this issue.

It is important to note that the appropriation to the math and science proficiency fund is for

mathematics, science and READING summer institutes. A similar appropriation with identical

language was contained in the General Appropriations Act of 2006, yet little or no emphasis was

placed on the reading component. It is important not to lose sight of the importance of

improving reading while at the same taking steps to improve math and science.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED reports that the $1.7 million appropriated by the 2006 Legislature for math, science and

reading institutes has already served almost 1,000 math and science teachers in grades K-12 in

nine projects, and more institutes are planned in the Spring and into the Summer up to June 30.

The names of teachers and their schools are being added to a database so that the future

achievement of their students can be compared to their past achievement.

CONFLICTS

SB 552 is similar to HB 220 with two significant differences, SB-552 provides additional duties

for the bureau to develop and evaluate curriculum, instructional programs and professional

development programs in math and science aligned with the state academic content and

performance standards. SB-552 also adds provisions for funding for persons that implement

innovative, research-based mathematics and science curricula and professional development

programs for public school students. It is not clear if this funding will be distributed via an

application process or through an RFP.

PA/mt