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





SPONSOR: Coll DATE TYPED: 02/20/99 HB 668
SHORT TITLE: Retention of Qualified Teachers Study SB
ANALYST: Fernandez


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
$ 270.0 Non-Rec GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 668 appropriates $270.0 to SDE to complete an independent study and to establish a data base that measures housing costs, cost-of-living factors and other factors which affect the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers statewide.



Significant Issues



The 1998 Legislature appropriated $75.0 to SDE to contract for an independent study to establish a database that measures housing costs and other factors affecting the cost of living, recruitment and retention in the state's 89 school districts. The SBE, the Executive, and the legislative leadership appointed a task force to select the contractor and oversee the process.



The task force selected Jordan and Associates and the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) to complete the study. At its November 13 meeting, the COLA Task Force voted to support legislation to continue work on the COLA study in order to prepare recommendations for the SBE and the 2000 Legislature.





FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



House Bill 668 appropriates $270.0 from the general fund to SDE for expenditure in fiscal years 1999 and 2000. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.



Included in the FY2000 public school support package, the State Board of Education requested $70.0 for the continuation of the cost-of-living study and $225.0 for information system development software for a cost-of-living data system.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



The Legislative Finance Committee recommended the requested $70.0 for the continuation of the study.



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