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 HEC

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/10/08

HB 642/HECS

SHORT TITLE Central NM College Transportation

SB

ANALYST Williams

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$25.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Education Committee Substitute for House Bill 642 appropriates $25,000 from the

General Fund to the Higher Education Department for Central New Mexico Community College

for the purpose of providing student transportation on the public transit system.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $25,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 09 shall revert to the

General Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

CNM discuss a pilot program with the public transit system where students used free tickets in

one month. In the pilot program, almost 2,300 passes were issued to about 10 percent of the

student population. CNM notes this appropriation would allow full implementation of the

student transportation program.

House Bill 642/HECS – Page

2

Of the CNM student population, about 40 percent receive federal, need-based Pell grants.

According to CNM, access to transportation is important for student access and retention along

with the associated environmental benefits.

HED notes Albuquerque’s Sun Tran buses charge $0.35 for each ride and issue a transfer that

lasts two hours. Monthly student passes cost $12.00.

CNM did not submit this request as a new initiative for funding to the HED in the Fall 2007

budget cycle. The January 2008 LFC report “Higher Education Department Review of Selected

Research and Public Service Projects" discusses best practices for funding these types of

projects.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

HED recommends this appropriation be made directly to Central New Mexico Community

College.

AW/mt