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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Garcia, MJ
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
01/24/08
HB
SHORT TITLE NMSU Space Consortium & Outreach Program
SB 157
ANALYST Hanika-Ortiz
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
$300.0
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
New Mexico State University (NMSU)
New Mexico Higher Education Department (HED)
New Mexico Public Education Department (PED)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 157 appropriates $300 thousand from the General Fund to NMSU in FY09 to provide
continued funding for the New Mexico Space Consortium and Outreach Program.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $300 thousand 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.
NMSU reports that SB157 funds will be used to leverage the already stable congressional
funding level of approximately $550 thousand. Stable funding enables a base from which to offer
programs throughout the state. SB157 will assist in fulfilling the 100% mandatory matching
funds requirement. The funding primarily supports faculty salaries and student financial aid.
Tuition and fees are covered as well as stipends for summer internships which give students
opportunities to stay connected with faculty and build their careers via research projects. SB157
will enable more expansion at postsecondary institutions that began in FY08.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 157 – Page
2
This request was not submitted by NMSU to the NMHED for review. The NMHED and
Legislative Finance Committee funding recommendation for FY09 is a continuance of FY08
recurring funding in the amount of $102 thousand for the New Mexico Space Consortium and
Outreach Program; and, $50 thousand for the New Mexico Space Consortium Grant for a total of
$152 thousand for expenditure in FY09.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
NMSU will use the funds to increase the number of students entering and retained in higher
education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and education (STEM).
NMSU is the lead institution for the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC); a
statewide network of universities, colleges, industry, museums, federal, state, and local agencies.
In 1989, NMSGC became a member of the congressionally funded National Space Grant College
and Fellowship Program which is administered by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA).
NMSU reports that over 61,822 New Mexico citizens participated in NMSGC programs in 2002-
2006. The requested funds will support continuation of program results listed below:
•
430 students received scholarships in science, technology, engineering, math, and
education, including:
o
194 female and 236 male students
o
290 under-represented minority and 140 non-minority students
o
330 undergraduate and 100 graduate students
•
6,512 students and faculty who participated in higher education programs
•
1,432 students and teachers who participated in pre-college programs, including over
5,000 students involved in student rocket launches at the X Prize Cup funded by NMSGC
•
53,310 New Mexicans who participated in public outreach programs
•
18 courses were created through NMSGC support
•
10 Reduced Gravity flights designed and flown by undergraduate students from UNM,
NMSU, NMIM&T, and SJCC
•
290 research/teaching papers were published by faculty and students as a result of
NMSGC support
•
35 research projects were funded by NMSGC
•
Over 600 people have attended the International Symposia on Personal Spaceflight, co-
chaired by NMSGC and held in conjunction with the X PRIZE Cup.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
PED reports that the bill supports Goal 1 of the Department’s A Strategic Action Plan for
Advancing Math and Science Education in New Mexico 2007-2010: “Increase student interest,
participation and achievement in math and science".
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
NMSU assumes the University will be able to manage these funds and the program with existing
staff.
pg_0003
Senate Bill 157 – Page
3
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
Retention of women and minority students in our programs throughout the state has led to
recognition by NASA, and the National Science Foundation as exemplary. New Mexico’s
population is made up of 53% underrepresented minorities. NMSGC scholarship recipients are
67% underrepresented minorities.
The New Mexico Department of Labor projected an annual need to fill more than 1,000 new
STEM jobs. The NMSGC promotes education in these fields and plans strategies to compete
with the global marketplace.
Employment Prospects for Selected Fields
New Mexico Department of Labor, 2002-2012
Occupational Title
%
Change
Annual
Openings
Computer Specialists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37.6% 650
Mathematical Scientists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.9%
20
Engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.9%
310
Life Scientists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7.7%
40
Physical Scientists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6.8%
130
Total annual entrants into STEM workforce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1150
WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL
NMHED stresses that without state funding and support, NMSGC would be at risk of losing the
federal allocation because of the matching funds requirement.
AHO/bb