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

SPONSOR:	Trujillo		DATE TYPED:	03/13/03		HB	HJM 90/aHEC
SHORT TITLE:		Public Employee Continuing Education				SB
					ANALYST:		Gonzales

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
			Significant

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

State Personnel Office (SPO)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee amendment changes the date the agencies are requested to report their findings and recommendations to the Legislative Education Study Committee from November 1, 2003 to a week prior to the 2004 Second Session of the Forty-Sixth legislature.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Joint Memorial 90 requests the Commission on Higher Education and the State Personnel Office to cooperate in assessing the needs and opportunities for public employee continuing education programs. The memorial also requests the agencies report their findings and recommendations to the Legislative Education Study Committee by November 1, 2003.

Significant Issues

This memorial recognizes that while continuing education is critical for the continued advancement and professional performance of state and local employees, the State’s current continuing education policy does not afford adequate opportunity for continuing education. Additionally, the memorial states that financial aid and time off for education must match the requirements of institutions that provide educational services.

SPO indicates currently, there is no overarching policy direction; there are only unrelated policies promulgated by unrelated and independent entities. The infrastructure to support and implement the policies indicated above varies widely.

FISCAL and ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This memorial does not contain an appropriation; however, the actual impact of a state-wide policy for continuing education of state, local, and educational employees is expected to be significant, although the actual figures are difficult to determine at this time.

The Commission on Higher Education states that while its agency is very interested in the professional development needs of public employees, CHE does not have the personnel or supplies to support such an expensive study.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Which employees are included in the reference to state and local employees? Are all branches of government at all levels of government included?

JMG/njw/ls