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

SPONSOR Sanchez, B.

DATE TYPED 02-23-05 HB

SHORT TITLE Washington D.C. Intern Scholarships

SB 834

ANALYST Woods

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$48.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to the appropriation for the Commission on Higher Education in the General Appropria-

tions Act.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

No Response Received From

New Mexico Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 834 – Making an Appropriation for Intern Scholarships at the Washington Center for In-

ternships and Academic Seminars – appropriates $48,000 from the general fund to the Commission

on Higher Education for expenditure in FY06 for six higher education scholarships of $8,000

each to eligible students at the state four-year post-secondary educational institutions for intern-

ship programs of the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars in Washington,

D.C. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall

revert to the general fund.

Significant Issues

Now in its 30th year, The Washington Center (TWC) is a nonprofit organization serving hun-

dreds of colleges and universities in the U.S. and other countries by providing selected students

challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. The largest

such program in the area, TWC provides interns to organizations in government, business and

the non-profit sector and is financially supported by states, federal agencies, corporations, foun-

Senate Bill 834 -- Page 2

dations, and private donors.

When students are accepted by TWC, they are assigned, according to their interests, to a pro-

gram: either the Main Program, one of approximately a dozen special, thematically-organized

ones, or one of two postgraduate programs. Each program has one or more professional program

advisors who counsel, place, supervise and help evaluate students, as well as organize activities

for them during the day or half-day when students are not at their internships.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $48,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert to the gen-

eral fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The New Mexico Commission on Higher Education would retain oversight of the program.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to the appropriation for the Commission on Higher Education in the General Appropria-

tions Act.

BFW/yr