Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

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

SPONSOR Nava

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/19/06

HB

SHORT TITLE NMSU Underrepresented Students Alliance

SB 40

ANALYST Lewis

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

328.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates HB 170

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED)

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 40 appropriates $328,000 from the general fund to Board of Regents of New Mexico

State University (NMSU) to expand support for the Alliance for Underrepresented Students

(AUS). According to NMSU the alliance supports student development at New Mexico institu-

tions of higher education for the purpose of increasing retention and graduation of students (in-

cluding minorities and students with disabilities) who are underrepresented in the Science, Math,

Engineering, and Technology (STEM) disciplines.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $328,000 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.

Senate Bill 40 – Page

2

According to the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED), this appropriation du-

plicates the fiscal year 2007 base expansion request submitted by NMSU to NMHED and would

nearly double the total annual budget for AUS to a total of $676,100.

The funding increase for AUS is not included in HMHED’s 2006 Legislative Priorities. Nor has

any increase been included in the LFC’s budget recommendation.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to the NMHED, this appropriation would allow AUS to add 2.0 FTE, bringing the

program’s total to 10.25 FTE.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

The AUS project will continue to operate at its current funding level.

ML/mt