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

SPONSOR Wirth

DATE TYPED 2/23/05

HB 781

SHORT TITLE New Mexico History Scholars Program

SB

ANALYST Medina

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$75.0

Recurring

General

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates Senate Bill 729

Duplicates a section of Senate Bill 399

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Response Received From

Commission of Public Records

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 781 appropriates $75.0 from the general fund to the State Commission of Public Re-

cords for the purpose of implement a New Mexico history scholars program for fellowships and

a lecture program.

Significant Issues

According to the Commission of Public Records, the appropriation for the New Mexico History

Scholars Program would be used to fund fellowships that would encourage research in the State

Records Center and Archives’ premier collections by scholars. The agency would establish the

criteria for award of the fellowships through rule, although the appropriation is based on an aver-

age stipend of $2.5 per month. The term of the fellowship would be a minimum of one month

and a maximum of three. As one requirement for holding a fellowship, each fellow would be

asked to give a formal lecture. The remainder of the appropriation (estimated at $15.0) would be

used to meet operational expenses associated with the lectures.

House Bill 781 -- Page 2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $75.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any

unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to the

general fund.

The Commission’s appropriation request included $4.4 to contract with nationally recognized

authorities on NM history to present five lectures around the state. The request was included in

the LFC recommendation.

Continuing Appropriations

The LFC FY06 appropriation recommendation is balanced between revenues and expenditures

and any increase in recurring funding must be offset by reductions in other areas of the recom-

mendation. The Legislature must consider all priorities and funding requirements to find reve-

nue to support this legislation.

DUPLICATION

Duplicates Senate Bill 729 and duplicates a section of Senate Bill 399 carrying the same appro-

priation amount for the same purpose.

ALTERNATIVES

The duplicate bills mentioned above could be considered individually.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

If the NM History Scholars Program is not funded, the effort to promote research in the archival

collections by scholars and realize the concomitant deeper appreciation and understanding of the

state’s history would have to be deferred.

DXM/lg