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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Lopez

 

DATE TYPED:

2/17/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Education & Information Via Cable Access

 

SB

421

 

 

ANALYST:

L. Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$50.0

 

 

Recurring

GF

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

State Department of Education (SDE)

Local government Division (LGD), Department of Finance & Administration (DFA)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 421 appropriates $50.0 from the general fund to the Local Government Division (LGD)        of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to support outreach efforts and access to public, education and government information via cable access channels.

 

     Significant Issues

 

This bill provides funds to make public information more accessible to the public via cable

access.  SDE reports the agency could make more data available via this medium.

 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $50.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

The DFA analysis states that LGD does not administer this type of program and suggests the administration would be better placed with Office of Information and Technology Management

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

The bill addresses the use of cable to access public information. However, many citizens do not have cable access. 

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.                  What types of outreach efforts would be enhanced by this bill?

2.                  How would those with satellite dish and conventional antennae benefit from this bill?

3.                  Have local governments expressed and interest in this bill?

 

LRB/prr