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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Duplicates HB287

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SEC Amendment

In the reporting of its progress on the study of early childhood mental development to the Legislature, this amendment adds the Legislative Education Study Committee and the Commission on Higher Education.

Synopsis of Bill

This bill appropriates $150.0 to the Board of the Santa Fe Community College for the purpose of conducting the first year of a two-year pilot program at SFCC and the Bernalillo public schools to study early childhood mental development. Money from this appropriation may be used to contract for experts to conduct the pre- and post-measurements necessary to assess the results of the study and to carry out the pilot project at the Bernalillo public schools.

Significant Issues

In conducting the early childhood mental development pilot program, SFCC shall implement a design based on the brain development research being conducted by the Santa Fe Institute that explores the outcomes associated with enriched environments for young children. The program shall provide and train enrichment teachers to work with and train care givers of selected groups of children under three years of age in child care settings in Santa Fe and throughout the Bernalillo public schools to provide the stimulation and experiences that are being tested to foster optimum brain development. SFCC shall report its progress on the study to the second session of the forty-fourth Legislature.

According to the CHE, the project proposed in this bill was not included in the special project requests made by the institution.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $150.0 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.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

This bill duplicates House Bill 287.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

This bill specifies that the appropriation is for the first year of a two-year pilot project. The appropriation for fiscal year 2000 reverts to the general fund at the end of fiscal year 2000, making a second year of funding necessary to accomplish the bill's directive.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The CHE suggests the following language: The institution receiving the appropriation in this bill shall submit a program evaluation to the LFC and CHE by August 1, 2001, detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico.

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