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:

Aragon

 

DATE TYPED:

2/26/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Youth Holistic Agricultural Farming Program

 

SB

756

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$750.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to: HB 387, Statewide Agricultural Education Programs

     SB 536,Statewide Agricultural Programs Identical bills which differ only in

     appropriation amount)

 

Relates to HB 478, Statewide Career & Technical Education

 

 

Relates to Appropriation for State Department of Education in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC files

 

Responses Received From

 

New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 756 appropriates $750.0 from the general fund to the State Department of Public Education for expenditure in fiscal years 2004 through 2007 to support programs that provide holistic, agricultural farming experience to school-aged youth in New Mexico; and specifies that no more than $250.0 may be expended in any one fiscal year.

 

     Significant Issues

.

It appears the appropriation in this bill is intended for use through the SDE to support the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Vocational Agriculture programs, two programs technically under the SDE but whose functions have been carried out through the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) at New Mexico State University (NMSU).  These programs have been used to encourage students to decide on a career in agriculture and/or related fields.  The programs have been popular and served to help students decide on a career.  However, while New Mexico’s economy is expected to generate nearly 185,000 jobs during the next ten years, the Department of Labor reports agriculture is one of two industries showing a negative growth percentage.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $750.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert to the general fund.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

This request was not included in the State Board of Education’s budget request to the Legislature.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.                  How would the programs provided this appropriation support or conflict with the programs carried out by the NMDA?

2.                  Will additional FTE be required by SDE or will the activities be outsourced?

3.                  Why is this a three-year appropriation?

 

 

LRB/njw