NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

The LFC is only preparing FIRs on bills referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The chief clerks are responsible for preparing and issuing all other bill analyses.

Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Room 416 of the State Capitol Building.

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to SB3/SFCS

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Public Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 735 appropriates $33,000.0 to SDE for distribution to each public school for the development of educational technology programs, including the acquisition and installation of educational technology.

Significant Issues

The Technology for Education Act creates the educational technology fund for the purpose of implementing the provisions of the act. Appropriations made to the fund are distributed to school districts on a per pupil basis and may be used to purchase closed circuit television systems, educational television and radio broadcasting, cable television, satellite, cooper and fiber optic transmission, computer, video and audio laser and CD ROM discs, video and audio tapes or other technologies and the training, maintenance, equipment and computer infrastructure information, techniques and tools, used to implement technology in classrooms and library medica centers. The act also requires public school districts to have an approved long-range technology plan and each district must file an annual report which outlines how funds have been used.

This bill requires SDE to establish an application procedure for the distribution of funds to each public school.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 735 appropriates $33,000.0 to SDE for expenditure in fiscal year 2000. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

SDE anticipates that there would be an administrative impact to public school districts. Schools would need to have a technology coordinator to ensure decisions on expenditures are compliant with district standards and that the technology and professional development support district goals and meet state content standards and benchmarks.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

Senate Finance Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 3 includes a $5,000.0 appropriation to the Education Technology Fund.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

This bill conflicts with the provisions of the Technology for Education Act set forth in 22-15A-1 to 22-15A-10 NMSA 1978.

CTF/njw