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





SPONSOR: Rawson DATE TYPED: 02/02/99 HB
SHORT TITLE: Rural Adult Basic Education SB 113
ANALYST: Fernandez


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
$ 150.0 Recurring GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)





Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to Duplicates HB193, Relates to HB3 and SB3



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



State Department of Public Education (SDE)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

LFC Files



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



This bill appropriates $150.0 to SDE for expansion of the Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs and services in rural areas of the state.



Significant Issues



The State Department of Education conducted a study in 1997 identified approximately 3,500 eligible adults unable to participate in ABE programs because services are not available in rural areas where they reside.



SDE reports that there are currently 24 administrative entities that operate ABE programs at 235 instructional sites throughout the state. The administrative entities include seventeen state supported two-year colleges, two community based organizations, two local agencies, Department of Corrections, and two post-secondary Bureau of Indian Affairs schools.



These funds would cover the cost to create new instructional centers to serve eligible students in rural isolated areas.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



Senate Bill 113 appropriates $150.0 to SDE from the general fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2000 to expand the Adult Basic Education programs in rural areas. Any unexpended or unencumbered balances remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



The State Department of Education currently administers the Adult Basic Education program with 1.10 full-time employees, funded from the federal Adult Literacy Grant. The department also receives approximately $13,000.00 from indirect costs to administer to program. Federal funding also supports an additional ABE position housed at Santa Fe Community College to assist with the administration and monitoring of the statewide programs.



The State Department Of Education indicates that this legislation would provide for the continuation of an on-going project currently administered by the department.

RELATES/DUPLICATION



Senate Bill 113 and duplicates House Bill 193.



Included in House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 3 is $4,700.0 for Adult Basic Education programs.



CTF/sb