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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Gorham		DATE TYPED:	02/08/99		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Teacher Merit Pay Taskforce				SB	622
					ANALYST:		Woodlee

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99

FY2000

FY99

FY2000

$ 25.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB115/aHEC, HB526. SB158/aSEC, SB316/aSEC, and SB494

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Education

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 622 would create and fund the Teacher Merit Pay Taskforce to research issues related to merit pay for teachers and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislative Education Study Committee before each Legislative Session.

Significant Issues

The bill requires that the taskforce be composed of 18 members appointed as follows:

•Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
•Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
•Three members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
•Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;
•One member of the Governor's staff (appointed by the Governor);
•Three members appointed by the Governor who are members of the business community and not employed in education services;
•Three members appointed by the Governor who are school parents not employed in education services; and
•One member appointed by the State Board of Education.

The bill also requires the taskforce to hold monthly meetings and to examine New Mexico statutes, constitutional provisions, rules, and court decisions related to merit pay for teachers. The bill also requires the taskforce to examine the activities in other states regarding merit pay.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Senate Bill 622 appropriates $25.0 from the general fund to the Legislative Council Service for expenditure in fiscal year 2000. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 will revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The LCS and the LESC would provide additional staffing functions.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

House Bill 526 and Senate Bill 494 would appropriate fund to the State Department of Education to conduct a performance-based pilot project among a maximum of 45 volunteer teachers in high schools throughout the state. Also, House Bill 115/aHEC and Senate Bill 158/aSEC would amend the public school funding formula to provide National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certified teachers with a salary increase. In addition, Senate Bill 316/aSEC would provide funds for school districts to reimburse NBPTS certified teachers recruited from out-of-state for moving expenses.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

SDE indicates that there is no "sunset" for this taskforce.

MW/gm