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

SPONSOR Beffort

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/21/08

HB

SHORT TITLE High School Mock Trial Program

SB 41

ANALYST Escudero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$35.0.

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

University of New Mexico (UNM)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 41, High School Mock Trial Program appropriates $35.0. from the general fund to

Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for the School of Law to conduct the New

Mexico high school mock trial program.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $35.0 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.

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

review and the Department’s funding recommendation for FY09 is a continuance of FY08

recurring funding in the amount of $82,700.

Senate Bill 41 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to UNM the New Mexico High School Mock Trial Program, celebrating its 30

th

anniversary in 2008, has received funding from the New Mexico legislature annually since 2003.

Mock trial is an innovative, hands-on experience in the law that each year impacts hundreds of

high school students of all ages and abilities who -- under the supervision of volunteer attorney

coaches and teacher advisors -- research, study and prepare a hypothetical courtroom trial based

upon public policy issues that are important and interesting to young people. Mock trial improves

knowledge, skills and attitudes about the law and the legal system and instills in participants an

appreciation for their rights and responsibilities within that system. In 2007, the state champion

team from Sandia High School finished 9

th

in the nation, the highest finish ever by an APS school.

According to Public Education Department, in February, state regional competitions are held in

Las Cruces, Albuquerque and Santa Fe in which the teams try their cases before judges and

panels of jurors. In March, the eight finalists meet in Albuquerque to name a state champion

who will represent New Mexico at the national championship in May.

According to Higher Education Department, if funding is not received, the Center for Civic

Values Board of Directors would consider the situation and make a decision about how to

proceed.

PME/mt