[1] NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only 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:

Lopez

 

DATE TYPED:

01/29/02

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Single Parent Scholarship Act

 

SB

128

 

 

ANALYST:

Fernandez

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

Or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

2,000.0

 

 

Recurring

Single Parent Scholarship

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Duplicates/Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act                                           

 

REVENUE

 

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

 

2,000.0

 

Recurring

Single Parent Scholarship

 

(2,000.0)

 

Recurring

Lottery Tuition Scholarship

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

                                                                                                                                                           

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC files

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

New Mexico Lottery Authority

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 128 creates a scholarship program for low-income single parents returning to a public post-secondary institution in New Mexico to continue their education.  The program is funded with net revenues from the lottery and is in effect July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2006.

 

     Significant Issues

 

Qualifications for a scholarship:

 

¨     Must be a single custodial parent with financial need;

¨     Must be enrolled full-time in a post-secondary institution;

¨     Must be a United States citizen and resident of New Mexico for in-state tuition purposes;

¨     Returned to school after not being enrolled in a post-secondary institution for at least two semesters prior to the qualifying semester; and

¨     Maintain a 3.0 grade point average or higher each semester.

 

Recipients that qualify for a scholarship can receive up to $375 per semester or $750 per year and may use the money for tuition, books, fees, child care or other costs incurred while attending a post-secondary institution.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

Senate Bill 128 creates the Single Parent Scholarship Fund and appropriates $2,000.0 to the fund from net revenues from the Lottery Tuition Fund.    This appropriation is a recurring expense to the Single Parent Scholarship Fund for fiscal years 2003 through 2006.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal years 2003 through 2006 shall not revert.  After fiscal year 2006, all net revenues from the lottery shall be deposited in the Lottery Tuition Fund. 

 

Senate Bill 128 also amends Section 6-24-24 NMSA 1978, to direct the State Treasurer to deposit $2,000.0 of net revenues from the lottery into the Single Parent Scholarship Fund and the remainder of the net revenues into the Lottery Tuition Fund.

 

Initial cost estimates provided by the CHE indicate this program would serve approximately 2,300 single parent returning students at a total cost of $1,908.4.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The CHE will administer the fund and develop appropriate rules and regulations.  In addition, the commission will develop a process for the reduction of awards in the event the number of eligible award recipients exceeds the amount of money available each semester for the program.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

This is a Legislative Finance Committee sponsored bill.

 

CTF/njw


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