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





SPONSOR: Wright DATE TYPED: 02/3/00 HB HJM 39/aHAGC
SHORT TITLE: Use NM Agriculture Products in School Meals SB
ANALYST: Baca


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY00 FY01 FY00 FY01
NFI



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC files, State Department of Education (SDE)



SUMMARY



    Synopsis of Amendment



The amendment adopted by the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee inserts a requirement that the SDE and the Department of Agriculture submit a joint report to the Legislative Council Service by October 30, 2000. The memorial is otherwise unchanged.



Synopsis of Bill



House Joint Memorial 39 requests that SDE and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture collaborate to evaluate the opportunities for public schools to use New Mexico agricultural products in preparing school meals.



Significant Issues



The memorial calls for a study to increase the consumption of New Mexico agricultural products by the state's school children who participate in the school lunch program. The SDE analysis points out that USDA distributes allocated commodities to public schools based on student participation as well as the dollar amount of commodities to be allocated to the state. School districts select which commodities to use, and any change in the distribution and use of agricultural products would require a policy change at the federal level.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The SDE analysis indicates resources, including staff time, would be needed but, apparently, not additional resources.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



SDE and the Department of Agriculture would be required to collaborate in conducting the study.



TECHNICAL ISSUES



The memorial does not state whether the results of the study are to be presented to any legislative committee or the Governor or any other policy-making entity. And, no deadline is set for completion of the study.



LB/njw