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F I S C A
L I M P A C T R E P O R T
|
SPONSOR: |
Picraux |
DATE TYPED: |
02/03/02 |
HB |
320 |
||
|
SHORT TITLE: |
Experimental Program For Competitive Research |
SB |
|
||||
|
|
ANALYST: |
Gilbert |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
|
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
|
FY02 |
FY03 |
FY02 |
FY03 |
|
|
|
|
$ 3,000.0 |
|
|
Recurring |
General
Fund |
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES
OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Response Received
Economic Development Department (EDD)
New Mexico Commission for Higher Education (CHE)
SUMMARY
Synopsis
of Bill
House Bill 320 appropriates $3.0 million to the
New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (NMCHE) to match federal funds for
New Mexico's investigational program to stimulate competitive research.
Significant
Issues
In 2001, New Mexico became eligible to apply for
funding from the National Science Foundation's Experimental Program to
Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).
This is a joint project between the National Science Foundation (NSF)
and several U.S. states. EPSCoR operates
on the principle that aiding researchers and institutions in securing federal
research and development funding will develop a state's research infrastructure
and advance the state's economic growth. Their goal is to maximize the
potential of a state's existing science and technology resources and use those
resources as a foundation for economic growth.
In order to qualify for EPSCoR funds, states must be willing to commit
matching funds and the required match for participation is 50%.
House Bill 320 -- Page 2
According to
the Economic Development Department (EDD), the initial focus of the EPSCoR program
in New Mexico will relate to natural resources and nanotechnology. Additionally, another goal of EPSCoR is to
tie the state’s smaller 4-year universities to the larger research institutions
and to the federal labs.
Participating institutions in New Mexico include
Eastern New Mexico University, Western New Mexico University, University of New
Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech, New Mexico Highlands
University, Sandia National Laboratories, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $3.0 million 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
This program was not presented to the Commission
on Higher Education for funding consideration.
RLG/ar
Attachment
