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 Powdrell-Culbert
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/23/2009
HB 154
SHORT TITLE Rio Rancho Cyber Academy
SB
ANALYST Aguilar
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
$500.0
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Public Education Department (PED)
Higher Education Department (HED)
SUMMARY
House Bill 154 appropriates $500 thousand from the general fund to the Public Education
Department for the purpose of expanding synchronous course offerings at the Rio Rancho cyber
academy in the Rio Rancho public schools.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $500 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general
fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall
revert to the general fund.
The LFC remains concerned with funding initiatives outside of the funding formula as it tends to
disequalize school funding and diverts funding away from core educational needs.
Funding for the Rio Rancho cyber academy is contained in the HEC recommendations for HB-3.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The Rio Rancho cyber academy is in its third year and offers Rio Rancho students state-aligned
online courses both asynchronously (24/7) and synchronously (in real time). This program