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.



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 Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.





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





SPONSOR: Hamilton DATE TYPED: 02/01/01 HB 313
SHORT TITLE: WNMU Child Development Program SB
ANALYST: Gilbert


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 375.0 Recurring GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates House Bill 215

SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files

Commission for Higher Education (CHE)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 313 appropriates $375.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of Western New Mexico University (WNMU) to fund the child development center program at WNMU. This bill contains an emergency clause.



Significant Issues



According to the Commission for Higher Education (CHE), the WNMU Board of Regents ranked this project second out of ten requests for new/expansion funding submitted to the CHE. The WNMU Board of Regents approved $93.8 in expansion funding for this program. However, this program was not recommended for expansion by CHE.



The higher education funding formula allows institutions to retain 100 percent of indirect cost revenue. One of the purposes of allowing these funds to be retained by institutions is to provide seed money and matching funds for projects such as the one proposed in this bill.



The requested funding of $375.0 is the total FY 2001-02 request, comprised of $281.2 to be received from the 2000-01 General Fund appropriation, and a $93.8 expansion request.



The WNMU Child Development Program received a $225,000 recurring and a $150,000 special appropriation in the 1999 special session.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $375.0 contained in this bill, which has an emergency clause, is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY02 shall revert to the general fund.



AMENDMENTS



The CHE suggests the following language for all new recurring higher education programs and expansion of current programs (assuming that funding will continue beyond 2001-2002):



"The institution receiving the appropriation in this bill shall submit a program evaluation to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on Higher Education by August 2, 2004 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from having this program implemented for a three-year period."



RLG/ar