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

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/14/07

HB

SHORT TITLE Improve Northeastern NM Science Scholarship

SB 965

ANALYST Guambaña

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$200.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 965 appropriates $200,000 from the General Fund to PED to improve science

scholarship in northeastern New Mexico middle and high schools.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200,000 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.

PED states that this bill appropriates $200,000 to contract with a nonprofit organization, but the

process must follow the state procurement code and will require a Request for Proposal (RFP) to

be developed, reviewed, contract awarded and contract monitored. Time required for writing,

approving and finalizing a contract as well as time to visit the program and provide input to align

project activities with New Mexico Science Standards totals 60 hours for one Education

Administrator A equivalent @ $25.50 plus benefits ($1,989); 20 hours for one Executive

Secretary & Administrative Assistant A @ $16.89 plus benefits ($439.14) and 10 hours for

Financial Spec O @ $15.11 plus benefits ($196.43) to set up accounts and process

Senate Bill 965 – Page

2

documentation. Total cost: $2,624.57.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

PED comments that this collaboration which includes Luna Community College, New Mexico

Highlands University, United World College and the Northern Network is dedicated to meeting

and exceeding science standards in the schools of northeastern New Mexico. This bill would be

used partly to provide funds for two salaries for educators who will be “circuit riders" through

local middle and high schools and present summer workshops for teachers.

PED additionally notes that a focal point for the program includes Mora and San Miguel

Counties and a potential 23 school districts in northeastern New Mexico. Over 20% of the adults

in Mora County did not finish grade school, while about 40% did not complete high school.

Recent studies have shown a correlation between a child’s level of academic achievement and

that of the adults in his or her household. Furthermore, about 50% of the children in Mora

County live in homes that are below the poverty level. Neighboring San Miguel County has the

fifth highest per capita rate of DWI arrests in the nation, and Las Vegas has the highest per capita

rate of violent crime in the state.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

PED states that this bill relates directly to performance measures on proficiency in mathematics

and supports the Department’s efforts to fully implement the standards and benchmarks in

science and mathematics.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

PED asserts that it would be appropriate for staff of their Department’s Math and Science Bureau

to visit this program if implemented. The staff of the Math and Science Bureau has also been

asked for guidance in developing the teacher professional development component of the

program.

AG/nt