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





SPONSOR: Carraro DATE TYPED: 01/31/01 HB
SHORT TITLE: Private Student Tuition Scholarship Act SB 13
ANALYST: Fernandez


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 1,400.0 Recurring G/F



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act Section 5.



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Commission on Higher Education (CHE)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



Senate Bill 13 creates the Private Student Tuition Scholarship Act to provide eligible students with a tuition scholarship to any public post-secondary educational institution in New Mexico for each year the student attended an accredited non-public school or an approved home school program not to exceed five years.



Significant Issues



CHE indicates that currently, all New Mexico students educated in an accredited public, home school, or private school are eligible to apply for any of the 17 state supported financial aid programs such as Lottery Success Scholarships, State Student Incentive Grants and State Work Study.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $1,400.0 contained in this bill is a 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.





ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



The CHE may adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of the Private Student Tuition Scholarship Act.



The CHE indicates that additional staff would be required to administer the program and recommends that language be included to allow the agency to use up to three percent of the funds for administration.



CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP



Included in the General Appropriation Act, Section 5, page 157, is $43,301.1 for various student financial aid programs administered by CHE.



CTF/njw