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

SPONSOR Vigil

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/1/2006

2/6//2006 HB 279/aHEC

SHORT TITLE West Las Vegas School Cultural Activities

SB

ANALYST McOlash/Baca

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$85.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Public Education Department (PED)

Synopsis of HEC Amendment

The House Education Committee Amendment increases the appropriation to $85.0 from $70.0.

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 279 appropriates $70,000 from the General Fund to the Public Education Department

for expenditure in FY 2007 to provide in-school classroom cultural activities in the West Las

Vegas Public School District.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund. .

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 2007 shall revert to the

General Fund.

House Bill 279/aHEC- Page 2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Public Education Department indicates the appropriation will provide classes for children in

arts and cultural disciplines, art, dance, drama and music, and literacy. The arts make unique

contributions to education, culture and society. Students, teachers, parents and community

members would benefit from an arts, culture and education program that would support recogni-

tion and celebration of the diversity of culture in New Mexico.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Educational outreach programs based upon learning through the arts and culture promote:

•

Creative, engaged, skilled and confident students for New Mexico

•

Family and community involvement

•

Cultural and traditional celebrations, appreciation and connections

•

Celebration and development of artistic skills and knowledge

•

Support to New Mexico’s new elementary arts education programs

•

Improved school performance, cultural preservation and rejuvenation and job training

(The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, U.S. Department of Education, 2006).

BMC/mt:yr