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

SPONSOR Ezzell

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/30/08

HB 494

SHORT TITLE Chavez & Eddy 4-H Programs

SB

ANALYST Escudero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$25.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 441

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 494 appropriates $25.0 to the Board of Regents at New Mexico State University

(NMSU) for expenditure in FY09 to support the cooperative extension service 4-H youth

development program in Chaves and Eddy counties.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $25.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY09 shall revert to the general

fund.

This request was not submitted by NMSU to the New Mexico Higher Education Department for

review and is not included in the Departments funding recommendation for FY09.

House Bill 494 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to HED, 4-H is the youth development program of the Cooperative Extension

Service, College of Agriculture & Home Economics at New Mexico State University. NMSU

provides scholarships that cover the registration expenses for Senior Leadership Retreat, Youth-

Get-Away, Livestock School, Horse School, State 4-H Conference or a portion of the team fees

for serving as a State 4-H Officer, Ambassador, or Diplomat. All of the mentioned programs

assist to support youth leadership development. NMSU shows there is particular need for this

support in the counties of Chavez and Eddy.

According to PED, NMSU, 4-H is the largest youth organization in the world with 7 million

youth members and 603,000 volunteer leaders. Today, 4-H projects are offered in creative arts,

health and nutrition, natural science, plants and animals, communications and many more areas.

4-H reaches youth in urban, suburban and rural communities throughout New Mexico.

•

There are more than 76,000 youth, 11,000 volunteers and more than 200 projects

available in New Mexico 4-H clubs. Student participation in 4-H offers youth

membership in positive peer groups, year-round community clubs, special-interest and

short-term groups, school enrichment programs, leadership experiences, events, camps

and activities. Additionally, there are project schools, such as horse, lamb, goat, pig and

steer schools, and sewing camps.

•

According to NMSU cooperative extension department, this funding will provide the

Chavez and Eddy County youth ages 5-19 with outreach opportunities to enhance in-

school and after-school activities. Work with the local schools will be done to enhance

core curriculum (reading, writing, science and mathematics).

•

A “hands-on" approach to learning will engage all underserved youth, including African-

American, Native American and Hispanic youth, which is a major focus of this funding.

Partnerships between NMSU, local schools and communities to promote life-long

learning skills acquisition will ensure academic success and positive involvement of

youth in their communities.

According to PED, recent studies conducted by the NMSU State 4-H office revealed that when

youth are involved in the 4-H program they are less likely to be involved in risk factors

associated with consumption of alcohol and drug use.

•

Youths are more likely to be leaders in their school and communities.

According to NMSU, within this context, the New Mexico State University 4-H Youth

Development Program has identified youth development program for youth audiences, ages 5-19

as a priority. 4-H program focuses on four approaches in which, the local schools, communities

and New Mexico State University will reach out and engage new youth audiences.

1.

Outreach to families, communities, schools and the New Mexico State University 4-H

Youth Development program working together to enhance in-school, and out-of-school

time, including after school programs. The delivery of 4-H projects/subject matter

utilizing the experiential learning approach to assist youth to process and apply what is

learned to real world examples, achieve higher levels of social performance, and prepare

for meaningful work or further education,

House Bill 494 – Page

3

2.

The New Mexico State University 4-H Youth Development Program working together

with schools will enhance core curriculum (reading, writing, science and arithmetic).

3.

New Mexico State University 4-H Youth Development Program will collaborate with

families and community partners to ensure a stronger foundation for youth and their

community engagement.

4.

The New Mexico State University 4-H Youth Development Program will reach new

audiences of underserved youth, including African American, Native American and

Hispanic youth.

The principal objectives of this request will focus on providing 4-H programs to underserved

youth. New Mexico State University 4-H Youth Development Program staff will provide

teachers or classroom volunteers with experiential learning lessons and activities that are aligned

to New Mexico educational standards and benchmarks. This will enhance core curriculum and

more effectively engage students in the classroom. In addition to the school classroom, New

Mexico State University 4-H Youth Development professionals will provide educational, hands

on activities and programs in club and out of school settings through out the county.

PME/bb