NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only 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 for other purposes.

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Garcia, M.H.

 

DATE TYPED:

2/11/03

 

HB

197a/HEC

 

SHORT TITLE:

NMSU Teacher Distance Education

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

750.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

 

Relates to the Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act for New Mexico State University

 

Duplicates SB 95

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

New Mexico State University (NMSU)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

 

SUMMARY

    

     Synopsis of HEC Amendments

 

The House Education Committee amendments increase the appropriation to $750.0, adds professional development to the list of services that may be funded, includes math and science to the list of teaching fields for teachers who may have substandard certificates and are eligible for training, and directs that the NMSU Board of Regents shall contract with the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Board of Regents for $250.0 of this appropriation for collaboration in distance education for these projects.

 

     Synopsis of Original Bill

 

House Bill 197 appropriates $500.0 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for distance education technology to be used to offer licensure programs for teachers throughout the state who have substandard licenses in special education, bilingual education, speech and language pathology, public school administration, information technology and school counseling.

 

     Significant Issues

 

This program expansion was recommended for funding by the New Mexico State University Board of Regents, but it was not recommended for funding by the Commission on Higher Education.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $500.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.  While it is considered a one-time expansion cost by the university, its continued funding through the funding formula makes it a recurring expense.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

According to statistics available to Commission of Higher Education staff, individuals without appropriate licenses or endorsements fill 12% of teaching positions in New Mexico public schools.  The use of distance education technology would provide access to courses required for certification and\or endorsement to teachers who are “place and time bound” and can upgrade their skills primarily through alternative education methods.

 

AMENDMENTS

 

In its analysis, the Commission on Higher Education suggests adding the following language for all new recurring higher education programs and expansion of current programs:

 

“The institution receiving the appropriation in this bill shall submit a program evaluation to the Legislative Finance Committee and the Commission on Higher Education by June 30, 2005 detailing the benefits of the State of New Mexico from having implemented this program over a three year period.”

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.     Given the need to upgrade the knowledge and skills of individuals teaching without the appropriate certification, has the university attempted to share the costs of the  training needed the affected with public school districts ?

 

2.     Working in collaboration with school district personnel, could funds for training be obtained from federal programs such as Title 1 or  No Child Left Behind ? 

 

LRB/yr