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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

Economic Development Department (EDD)

General Services Department (GSD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

This bill appropriates $400.0 to the following: $150.0 to the governing board of New Mexico Junior College (NMJC) to provide for connecting the school to a telecommunications network for educational and public services and employing a full-time coordinator for those services; $150.0 to the board of regents of Northern New Mexico State School (NNMSS) to provide for connecting the school to a telecommunications network for educational and public services and employing a full-time coordinator for those services; and $100.0 to the Economic Development Department to promote and advertise the telecommunications services available at NMJC and NNMSS.

Significant Issues

According to the CHE, this request was not included in the special project funding requests made by NMJC or NNMSS. The CHE expresses concerns about current unmet educational needs, whether curricula currently exists to meet unmet needs or do new programs need to be developed, and which institutions could provide instruction via this proposed network.

According to GSD, this bill will assist the agency to further telecommunications connectivity for specific locations in Northern New Mexico.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $400.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY00 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Two FTE would be employed - 1.0 FTE at NMJC and 1.0 FTE at NNMSS - to accomplish the directive proposed in this bill.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to the CHE, ensuring access to affordable, quality education services through information technology is one of their highest priorities. The CHE received 41 information technology funding requests for a total of $22.2 million for FY00.

According to EDD, as an alternative, the appropriation of $100.0 made in this bill for promotion and advertising could be made to NMJC and NNMSS rather than EDD.

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