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





SPONSOR: Beam DATE TYPED: 02/7/01 HB 371
SHORT TITLE: UNM Wemagination Center SB
ANALYST: Gilbert


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 165.0

Recurring

GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files

Commission for Higher Education (CHE)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 371 appropriates $165.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico (UNM) for the Wemagination Center.



Significant Issues



This appropriation will be used to fund staff and operational expenses for the wemagination center of the UNM family development program. The funds are earmarked for the collection and distribution of recycled materials and for training and support to teachers and parents in creative, educational uses of recycled materials.



All New Mexico higher educational institutions were asked to provide the CHE with an overall priority listing of new and expansion research and public service project requests. According to the CHE, this request was not included in UNM's budget request to the their board of regents, and thus was not submitted to the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) for review. UNM did not receive governing board approval for this funding request and the CHE does not recommend this appropriation.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $165.0 contained in this bill 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."



LG/njw