[1] 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.

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Nunez

 

DATE TYPED:

01/21/02

 

HB

47

 

SHORT TITLE:

NMSU Viticulturist

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

 

 

 

$100.0

Recurring

General Fund

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)       

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

New Mexico State University

New Mexico on Higher Education (NMCHE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 47 appropriates $100.0 to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University’s (NMSU) Cooperative Extension Service (CES) for a viticulturist in the cooperative extension service to provide specialized technical services to New Mexico’s vineyards and wine industry.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The grape growing and wine industry in New Mexico is developing into a significant economic activity.  According to the NMSU, the industry must become involved in protecting itself through proper plant selection and best management practices, care and long-term maintenance of vineyards.  Currently there is not a specialist in the Cooperative Extension Service that is dedicated to this field.

 

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

 

The NMSU analysis reports that “Growers and producers must be better educated related to issues of variety selection and best management practices of successful growing and producing operations. 

 

 

An appropriately trained professional will carry out education programs and best practices management seminars and demonstrations to increase the knowledge and awareness of related issues.  Knowledge gained instrumentations will be utilized to measure this outcome indicator.”

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of  $100.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.   Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2003 shall revert to the general fund.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

The following is provided for information only.  It is not intended as a commentary on the merits of the program\project:

 

This request was not included in NMSU’S budget request to the NMSU Board of Regents, and thus was not submitted to the Commission on Higher Education for review.  Thus the CHE could take no action on this request.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  1. How do New Mexico grape growers and wine makers currently get professional assistance?
  2. Does the industry have an association that could provide or purchase such service?
  3. How has technical assistance been provided to the industry thus far?
  4. Other than a state appropriation, are there any sources of funding that could be tapped to fund this program?

 

LB/njw:ar

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