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





SPONSOR: Wilson DATE TYPED: 01/31/01 HB
SHORT TITLE: NMSU Viticulturist SB 178
ANALYST: Gilbert


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 100.0 Recurring GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates House Bill 407



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files

New Mexico Commission for Higher Education (CHE)

CHE Fund Appropriation Matrix FY02



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



Senate Bill 178 appropriates $100.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for a viticulturist in the of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics.



Significant Issues



This bill adds a viticulturist FTE to the cooperative extension service which will provide technical services to New Mexico's vineyards and wine industry.



All New Mexico higher educational institutions were asked to provide the Commission for Higher Education (CHE) with an overall priority listing of all new and expansion research and public service project requests. According to the CHE, NMSU provided a categorical priority list to the CHE, but did not include a request for a viticulturist. NMSU also did not receive formal approval from their governing board for this funding.



The CHE did not recommend funding a viticulturist for NMSU.





FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The $100.0 appropriation 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/ar