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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Robinson
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2/5/07
HB
SHORT TITLE UNM Regional Studies Program
SB 389
ANALYST Leger
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
$250.0 Nonrecurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to SB 398
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
New Mexico Higher Education Department (HED)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 389 appropriates $250 thousand from the general fund to the University of New
Mexico (UNM) for the regional studies program.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $250 thousand contained in this bill is a nonrecurring expense to the
general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY08 shall
revert to the general fund.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
According to HED the mission of the Center for Regional Studies is to provide research,
teaching opportunities, and service opportunities on issues involving New Mexico and the
Southwest, including the United States-Mexico border region. The center focuses on social
issues such as water rights and land grants.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 389 – Page
2
Funds appropriated in SB 389 will provide a total of 40 scholarships to be distributed among
undergraduate and graduate students, as well as fellowships and internships, support for faculty
research, faculty recruitment, and film documentaries about New Mexico and the southwest
region.
A breakdown of the funds is as follows:
Scholarships
Undergraduate - $5,000
Graduate - $12,500
Faculty research - $150,000
10 fellowships co-sponsored by UNM Southwest Hispanic Research Institute
Internships and film documentaries
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
SB 398 appropriates $1 million for professorships for the UNM Center for Regional Studies
JL/mt