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 Pinto

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2-9-06

HB

SHORT TITLE At-Risk Youth Character Development Program

SB 574

ANALYST Segura

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$250.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 280, HB14 and HB 529

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 574 appropriates $250.0 from the general fund to PED to implement character de-

velopment programs for four tribal and four non-tribal schools. The appropriation would focus

on at-risk youth in the eight schools.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Senate Bill 574 appropriates $250.0 from the general fund and is recurring. Any unexpended or

unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to PED, the Center of Disease Prevention and Control, six priority health risk behav-

iors contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, social problems in the United States.

These behaviors, often established during childhood and early adolescence.

Senate Bill 574 – Page 2

Many school districts are challenged by a rising tide of problems that include gang-related activi-

ties, substance abuse, absenteeism, high dropout rates, and students with minimal English profi-

ciency, decreasing parental involvement and support, and changing family structures.

The dropout rate among Hispanic students has remained at about 25 percent, much higher than

that of white and black students, whose dropout rates have declined steadily.

The Native American population in particular is disproportionately affected by many social and

drug and alcohol abuse. The Character Counts program funded by the PED is currently funding

17 projects statewide.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Senate Bill 574 positively impact the academic achievement of youth participating in the pro-

gram by improving attendance, resulting in improved reading and math scores and increasing the

graduation rate of students in New Mexico.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to PED, the department would coordinate funding for 8 New Mexico schools. This

can be accomplished with existing staff.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to HB 280, HB 14 and HB 529.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to PED, during the recent tribal education summit, it was emphasized by tribal leader-

ship that educational programs for Native American children by supportive of tribal values, be-

liefs, language, knowledge and philosophies.

RS/nt