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 for other purposes.

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Garcia, M.H.

 

DATE TYPED:

2/18/03

 

HB

198/aHEC

 

SHORT TITLE:

NMSU /Grants Degree Completion Program

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

150.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Duplicates SB 89

 

Relates to Appropriation for New Mexico State University in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC files

 

Responses Received From

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of HEC Amendment

 

The House Education Committee adds an evaluation requirement as proposed by the CHE:

 

“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 June 30, 2005 detailing the benefits to the State of New Mexico from having this program implemented for a three-year period.”

 

     Synopsis of Original Bill

 

House Bill 198 appropriates $150.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University to provide bachelor’s degree completion programs in early childhood and elementary education in collaboration with the Grant-Cibola County schools, the pueblos of Laguna and Acoma and the Grants campus of New Mexico State University

 

     Significant Issues

 

This bill addresses the teacher shortage issue, one that is particularly acute among small school districts that have large minority group students.  This bill is also designed to allow prospective teachers from minority groups to complete certification requirements and thus increase the number of certified teachers available as well the number of teachers from cultural and\or linguistic minority groups.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

This request for $150.0 was submitted to and approved by the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University.  However, the Commission on Higher Education did not recommend the project for expansion.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $150.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.  According to the NMSU analysis, this is a one-time request for non-recurring funding because program funding will be continued through the IHE funding formula after the first year.  The recurring cost, however, is simply shifted from a specific, one-year allocation to the university’s general fund appropriation.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.               If teacher training programs are already offered in the Grants area, why is additional funding needed ?

2.               Given that this program is considered a high priority by the regents, why weren’t funds redirected from other areas so the project could qualify for formula funding in subsequent years ?

3.               Are other sources for one-time funding available either within or outside the NMSU budget ?

 

LRB/yr:prr