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

SPONSOR Campos

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/10/08

HB

SHORT TITLE Luna College Youth College Program

SB 285

ANALYST Williams

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$200.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Related to SB 31, SB 284, SB 286

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

Luna Community College

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 285 appropriates $200 thousand from the General Fund to the Higher Education

Department for the purpose of the youth college program at Luna Community College. The

appropriation is to provide for participation fees, transportation, student learning kits,

instructional supplies and post-program evaluations.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200 thousand 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.

Senate Bill 285 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The program targets students entering grades 6 to 9 from Mora, Maxwell, West Las Vegas, Las

Vegas City, Pecos, Wagon Mound, Springer and Santa Rosa school districts. In 2007, 80 to 90

students participated in the program. The program offers two, one-week programs in which

students experience mini academic classes in science, math and reading. As well, there are

social experiences and general information on college admissions and financial aid.

Luna Community College submitted a request for this proposal to the HED in the Fall 2007

budget cycle. The request was for $40 thousand and was ranked in priority order as #5 out of 5

requests. The proposal was not included in the HED funding request for FY09, but in November

2007 HED rated the request as “supports state priorities." 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.

Luna Community College indicates funding could be used to increase the length of the program

from one week to two weeks per session, while maintaining two summer sessions. The college

also intends to increase the number of participants per session. In 2007, the retention rate of the

program was 100 percent, with students expressing interest in returning for a second summer.

The program currently has a reservation list for participation.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

Would students be able to return for a second summer with the funding proposed in this

bill or would the funding target first-time participants.

2.

To what extent are funds available from other sources.

3.

How will program outcomes be measured.

AW/mt