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 Griego

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/31/08

HB

SHORT TITLE Luna College Vocational Classes In Pecos

SB 501

ANALYST Haug

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$200.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

Luna Community College (LCC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 501 appropriates $200.0 from the general fund to the Higher Education Department

for Luna Community College to establish technical and vocational training classes in Pecos.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200.0 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.

The HED states that this request was not submitted to the New Mexico Higher Education

Department for review and is not included in the Department’s legislative recommendation for

FY09.

Senate Bill 501 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

LCC states:

The vocational training programs have been established at Luna Community College

main campus. However, it is requested by the Pecos community that these programs ex-

tend to their community due to high demand and inconvenience of travel from Pecos to

the Luna Community College main campus. Since Pecos is located in Luna Community

College’s service area and this area is high poverty, travel to the main campus is a finan-

cial burden for interested students from Pecos.

Funding will be utilized for state–of-the-art equipment for vocational classrooms to en-

hance student knowledge and skills. Additionally, funding will be used for training for

students and staff in the proper and safe use of equipment. It is Luna Community Col-

lege’s goal to enroll approximately 50 students in the vocational training programs which

will be instructed by 5 qualified staff members.

It is Luna Community College’s goal to ensure that the program participants maintain at

least a 2.5 GPA with the intent to acquire a certificate or degree in the specific programs.

Additionally, these programs will be available to community members as well as Dual

Credit students from Pecos Independent Schools.

According to the HED, this initiative proposes to provide technical and vocational training

classes to students in Pecos. According to the Director of Vocational Education Daniel Romero,

current program offerings include Automotive Collision Repair Technology, Automotive Tech-

nology, Building Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Furniture and Cabinet Making, and

Welding Technology. By partnering with Pecos High School, LCC provides non traditional stu-

dents opportunities for occupations in the trades.

GH/nt