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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Moore

 

DATE TYPED:

01/27/03

 

HB

125

 

SHORT TITLE:

Veterans’ High School Diplomas

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Chabot

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

$.01

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

 

Responses Received From

 

New Mexico Veterans’ Service Commission (VSC)

State Department of Education (SDE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 125 creates statute that would allow any honorably discharged veteran of World War II to receive a high school diploma if the entry into the service prevented the graduation from high school.

 

     Significant Issues

 

This bill is a very inexpensive way to honor World War II veterans.  Requirements to prove eligibility should be minimal and should consist of proof of service.

 

SDE points out that 26 states have enacted or are proposing legislation to provide World War II veterans high school diplomas if entry into the military prevented them from graduating.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There is no appropriation in this bill; minor administrative costs may result but these should be covered by the operating budget of the State Department of Education and local school district boards.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

If requested, VSC will use their database of veteran property tax exemption certificates to assist local school boards in determining eligibility for this program.

 

The State Board of Education will be required to adopt and promulgate rules of eligibility and devise an application form.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

  1. Should the proposed statute be expanded to cover other periods of combat where individuals were drafted, such as the Korean War and Viet-Nam War, and could not finish high school and had to enter the military ?

 

GAC/njw