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





SPONSOR: Salazar DATE TYPED: 02/20/01 HB 518
SHORT TITLE: Community-College-Based High Skills Training SB
ANALYST: Fernandez


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 1,000.0 Non-Recurring General Fund



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates/Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act CS/HB2, Section 6



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Commission on Higher Education (CHE)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 518 appropriates $1,000.0 from the general fund to the CHE for the purpose of developing, expanding and supporting broad-based entry-level high skills training programs at community colleges statewide.



Significant Issues



According to CHE, this funding will allow post-secondary institutions to develop training programs required to support a wide variety of economic development efforts in New Mexico's communities.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $1,000.0 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.



The bill requires each community college that receives funds, to provide an equal amount of funding from a source other than general fund.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



The CHE indicates they would administer the RFP process with the assistance of New Mexico Association of Community Colleges (NMACC).



CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP



Included in CS/HB2, Section 6, is a non-recurring appropriation of $1,000.0 to CHE for this program.



OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



The following is provided for information only, it is not intended as a commentary on the merits of the program.



According to CHE, this project was submitted to CHE for review. The Commission reviewed this proposal and included it in the "Investments for Urgent Workforce Needs" with a funding recommendation of $1,000.0. CHE indicates that this program will allow two-year institutions to respond more rapidly to training needs of employees in high skill/high wage jobs.



CTF/ar