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

SPONSOR Sanchez, B

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/24/2008

HB

SHORT TITLE School Character Education Programs

SB 173

ANALYST Aguilar

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$250.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 173 appropriates $250 thousand from the general fund to Public Education

Department for the purpose of funding existing character education programs in public schools.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $250 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 shall revert

to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

New Mexico has received funding under the United States Department of Education’s (USDOE)

Secretary’s Fund for the Improvement of Education with three successful grant applications in

1995, 1999 and 2004. The state is currently in its last year of a four-year grant that will end on

July 31, 2008. New Mexico has used CHARACTER COUNTS as a vehicle to deliver character

education statewide through this grant partnership.

New Mexico has received a total of $3,996,057.00 in federal funding for this initiative over the

last 12 years.

Senate Bill 173 – Page

2

This bill provides funding to continue addressing the building of character in our schools and

communities. Schools/districts have been successful at helping to build capacity and by

introducing, as part of our grant activities and aligning with the New Mexico Activities

Association, the inclusion of Pursuing Victory with Honor. By promoting sportsmanship and

fostering good character by teaching, enforcing, advocating and modeling the “Six Pillars of

Character" -- trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship -- we

can improve all schools and communities and reach sustainability.

PA/bb