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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Garcia, T. A.
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2/5/08 HB 559
SHORT TITLE Taos Water Conservation Education
SB
ANALYST Cox
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
$40.0
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Public Education Department - PED
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 559 appropriates forty thousand dollars ($40,000) from the General Fund to Public
Education Department for the purpose of supporting water conservation education in the Taos
public schools.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The PED would have to research available providers and staff would be required to develop a
contract for this initiative. Time required for writing, approving, and finalizing a contract totals
60 hours for one Ed Admin A equivalent @ $25.50 plus benefits ($1,989); 20 hours for one Exec
Sec & Adm Asst A @ $16.89 plus benefits ($439.14); and 10 hours for Financial Spec @ $15.11
plus benefits ($196.43) to set up accounts and process documentation. Total cost: $2,624.57.
The appropriation of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) contained in this bill is a recurring expense
to the General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal
Year 2009 shall revert to the General Fund.
pg_0002
House Bill 559 – Page
2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
There are several different entities which offer water conservation education programs to youth
throughout New Mexico. Each of them emphasizes the importance of building a strong
connection between children, their natural environment, and their cultural heritage (e.g., Amigos
Bravos, 2008; Rivers and Birds, 2008).
Water conservation education projects can align with NM Science Content Standards,
Benchmarks, and Performance Standards, especially those that address the “complex
relationships between living things and their environment" (NM State Department of Education,
2003).
In a 2003 position paper, the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) expressed strong
support for inclusion of environmental education in the school curriculum because “student
knowledge of environmental concepts establishes a foundation for their future understandings
and actions as citizens." NSTA further states, “Environmental education programs should foster
observation, investigation, experimentation, and innovation…and encourage active learning"
(NSTA, 2003).
DUPLICATE RELATIONSHIP
This Memorial duplicates HB 513
PRC/mt