NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.



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



SPONSOR: Taylor, J.G. DATE TYPED: 02/15/00 HB 470/aHEC
SHORT TITLE: UNM Chicano Studies Program SB
ANALYST: Pacheco-Perez

APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
 Recurring

or Non-Rec

 Fund

Affected

FY00 FY01 FY00 FY01
$ 145.0 Recurring GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates SB 413

SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

State Department of Education (SDE)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of HEC Amendment



This amendment adds the following language: "A plan for a program evaluation, including specific program goals and criteria for assessing effectiveness shall be submitted to the LFC and the CHE by August 1, 2000 and an assessment shall be completed annually."



Synopsis of Original Bill



This bill appropriates $145.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico to support the Offering Resources and Learning Empowerment program in order to retain at-risk 9th and 10th grade students at Albuquerque High School (AHS). The program is housed at the Chicano Studies program and seeks to be expanded into Albuquerque middle schools.



Significant Issues



According to the CHE, UNM currently receives the following appropriations for similar programs designed to recruit and retain students from under represented groups:



Hispanic Student Services $138.3

Youth Education & Recreation $166.3

Minorities in Engineering, Math & Science $200.0

Native American Intervention $223.4



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $145.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY01 shall revert to the general fund.



CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP



This bill duplicates Senate Bill 413.



OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



According to SDE, this mentoring program supports students at AHS, Rio Grande, Valley and Highland high schools and has been in place since 1995. This program plans to expand into feeder middle schools in order to provide a transition component to support the overall goal of keeping these at-risk students in school.



CHE recommends that the following language be included for all new recurring higher education programs: "A plan for a program evaluation, including specific program goals and criteria for assessing program effectiveness shall be submitted to the LFC and the CHE by October 1, 2000. An assessment of the program will be completed prior to June 30, 2001 and submitted to the LFC and the CHE."



App/gm