Master FIR (1988)

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

SPONSOR:	Macias		DATE TYPED:	02/25/99		HB
SHORT TITLE:		School Age For Kindergarten				SB	696
					ANALYST:		Fernandez

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99

FY2000

FY99

FY2000

$ 0.0

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Public Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 696 amends a section of the Public School Code to allow local school boards to admit any person who is not school age but who is at least five years of age prior to 12:01 a.m. December 31 of the calendar year into kindergarten, provided there is classroom space available and the child is sufficiently mature and capable to enter kindergarten.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Senate Bill 696 does not provide additional funds for children that meet the provisions stated in the bill.

It is unclear if the intent of this bill is to allow the additional students to be included in the membership count and eligible to generate units through the public school funding formula. If so, it may be possible for school districts to absorb the additional costs if the additional number of students is insignificant.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

SDE indicates the following issues should be clarified:

The reference to "classroom space" should be defined. Does it refer to a class not exceeding the individual class load?

The bill should require the State Board of Education to develop a policy that defines "sufficiently mature and capable".

The bill does not address 22-8-2, NMSA 1978 which defines a qualified student eligible to be included in the membership count and generate units through the public school funding formula.

CTF/gm