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

SPONSOR Steinborn

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/8/2007

HB 417

SHORT TITLE NMSU Public Broadcasting Radio & TV Stations

SB

ANALYST McOlash

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

$470.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB 135, SB 134, and HB 418.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Higher Education Department (HED)

New Mexico State University – KRWG

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 417 appropriates $470,000 from the General Fund to the NMSU Regents for expendi-

ture in FY 2008 to expand local broadcasting radio and television programming.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $470,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 2008 shall revert to the

General Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

New Mexico State University reports a need to build upon successful programming and enhance

the offerings through:

House Bill 417 – Page

2

Production Funding:

Opportunities and issues affecting the region require the ability to

provided local programs that are relevant and timely.

Equipment Funding:

In addition to meeting digital requirements, we seek to replace out-

dated equipment to help students gain valuable experience and meet the informa-

tion/educational needs of the Southern New Mexico.

In-state Travel Funding:

To meet the needs of this huge geographic region requires crews

and equipment to be available on location. Travel from Silver City to Ruidoso or Truth or

Consequences to Hachita presents a considerable challenge.

Personnel:

To help cover the expansion of the stations and programming, our need for

additional staff also expands. We are requesting funds for one additional person

The Higher Education Department's funding recommendation for FY08 is a continuance of

FY07 recurring funding in the amount of $1,208,600 with no expansion.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 135 (Expand NMSU Educational TV Services) and HB 418 (NMSU Educational TV

Services) appropriate $80,000 to NMSU to expand NMSU educational television services.

Senate Bill 134 (Expand NMSU Radio & TV Stations) also appropriates $470,000 from the

General Fund to NMSU to expand radio and television local programming. It is not an exact du-

plicate of HB 417 (NMSU Public Broadcasting Radio & TV Stations), because of the titles.

BM/sb