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 Cisneros

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

01/29/08

HB

SHORT TITLE UNM-Taos Manpower Development

SB 409

ANALYST Escudero

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

Higher Education Department (HED)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 409 appropriates $300.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the

University of New Mexico for the Taos Branch Community College for expenditure in FY09 to

develop and implement a partnership with local schools and community groups for manpower

development.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $300.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund or

other. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end 2009 of shall revert to the

general fund.

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

for review and is not included in the Departments funding recommendation for FY09.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to HED, the Manpower Development Program (MDP) (aka workforce development)

is operated by the UNM Taos branch campus. The MDP has been instrumental in collaborating

Senate Bill 409 – Page

2

with the local businesses and high schools in providing a broad scope of technical courses to the

Taos community and surrounding high schools through distance learning.

•

UNM Taos™ curriculum focuses on seven academies: Arts, Health and Human Services,

Science and Natural Resources, Professions and Liberal Arts, Trades and Industries,

Business and Computer Technology, International Programs Office and Bachelor and

Graduate Programs. Within the seven academies, there are specific courses designed to

meet the needs of the local workforce needs based on UNM Taos™ partnerships under

the Manpower Development Program.

•

Some examples of course offerings under the MDP are: diesel mechanics, computer

classes, life skills courses and business principles in management.

•

UNM Taos™ partnership with the surrounding high schools provide distance learning to

students in Questa, Cimarron and Penasco. As distance learning technology continues to

become available, the needs for this component evolve year to year. The founding

principle of the UNM Taos/high school partnerships is to engage students in higher

education

•

UNM Taos™ workforce development efforts with this program requires extensive

collaboration and strong partnerships with local businesses which are demonstrated by

the following course offerings in response to the community’s request:

Health Sciences (in collaboration with Holy Cross Hospital):

•

Medical billing courses will be offered. Holy Cross Hospital will provide the space,

equipment and teaching staff.

•

Medical massage courses. The Taos medical community requested holistic courses be

offered as an alternative to students.

•

Dental assisting courses in collaboration with the Taos Dental Association.

Career trade courses are offered in the following programs in collaboration with local area school

districts (mentioned above), Taos Builders Association, Sustain Taos and Kit Carson Electric

Coop, Taos County Chamber, Enchanted Circle Intergovernmental Council, Municipalities and

New Mexico Workforce Solutions:

1.

Construction Technology Program;

2.

Sustainability and Alternative Energy and Building Programming;

3.

Culinary and Service Industry Programming;

4.

Community based labor and employer training programming;

5.

Small business and Entrepreneurial Program Development;

6.

Distance delivery of Career Technical Courses at the Small Business

Development Centers.

PME/bb