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

SPONSOR Rodriguez

DATE TYPED 2/18/05

HB

SHORT TITLE State Historian New Mexico History Website

SB 598

ANALYST Medina

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$200.0

Non-Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates SB 399 and SB 404 in purpose but not in appropriation amount

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Commission of Public Records

Public Education Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 598 appropriates $200 thousand from the general fund to the State Commission of

Public Records for the purpose of enhancing the content of the office of the New Mexico State

Historian’s New Mexico history web site.

Significant Issues

The bill would assist the Office of the State Historian staff in content development (research,

writing, editing, etc.). Given the staff’s other responsibilities, the necessary time to devote to

content development on the website is limited. This bill dedicates resources to the promotion of

the intent of the website, which is to provide an easily accessible, reliable and encompassing

source for information about the state’s rich history.

The intent of the appropriation for the NM History web site is to contract with a project manager

and content researchers and reviewers as well as a web design firm to provide workload relief to

existing staff.

According to the Public Education Department (PED), the quality and abundance of New Mex-

ico history resources is limited for New Mexicans, especially for teachers. PED states that this

bill would expand upon needed resources for K-12 teachers who are expected to deliver aspects

Senate Bill 598 -- Page 2

of New Mexico history throughout the curriculum. In addition, PED states that as the depart-

ment enriches and provides guidance to teachers and students about the rich history and culture

of this state, [the state] will better prepare our students to understand and be better prepared to

make decisions about their communities and state.

Finally, PED states that it is important that resources are available to translate our documents,

articles and other artifacts into usable digital format in order to provide greater access of these

items and information to all New Mexicans.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

This bill would provide workload relief to the State Historian’s staff and would likely result in

improved performance on the output measure, “increase the number of consultations, research

reports and educational activities provided by the State Historian” recommended by the LFC.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200.0 contained in this bill is a non-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.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to the Commission of Public Records, the breadth and complexity of the research re-

quired to continue to develop historical and cultural content for the existing website are signifi-

cant enough to require an expanded scope of work and the resources to perform it.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 399 and Senate Bill 404 duplicate the purpose of this bill and include appropriations

of $350 thousand for the same purpose as this bill.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Commission of Public Records states that the Commission understands that neither SB 404

nor Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of Section 1 of SB 399 will be considered any further.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

Further development of the New Mexico History Website would continue with current resources

available. The agency states that the breadth of historical material and the work it takes to inte-

grate this material into the web site (research, scanning and data entry) require an expanded

scope of work and additional resources.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

How often is the New Mexico History Website updated or otherwise enhanced.

DXM/yr