LFC Requester:

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AGENCY BILL ANALYSIS

2013 REGULAR SESSION

WITHIN 24 HOURS OF BILL POSTING, EMAIL ANALYSIS TO:

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{Include the bill no. in the email subject line, e.g., HB2, and only attach one bill analysis and related documentation per email message}

SECTION I: GENERAL INFORMATION

{Indicate if analysis is on an original bill, amendment, substitute or a correction of a previous bill}

Check all that apply: / Date Prepared: / 02/05/13
Original / x / Amendment / Bill No: / SB 377
Correction / Substitute
Sponsor: / Linda Lopez & Sheryl Stapleton / Reviewing Agency: / Public School Facilities Authority
Short Title: / STATEWIDE DIGITAL LEARNING TASK FORCE / Person Writing fsdfs_____Analysis: / Tom Bush
Phone: / 505-843-6272 / Email: /

SECTION II: FISCAL IMPACT

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation / Recurring
or Nonrecurring / Fund
Affected
FY13 / FY14
30.0 / Nonrecurring / General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to:

Duplicates/Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

REVENUE (dollars in thousands)

Estimated Revenue / Recurring
or Nonrecurring / Fund
Affected
FY13 / FY14 / FY15

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates, Relates to, Conflicts with, Companion to

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY13 / FY14 / FY15 / 3 Year
Total Cost / Recurring or Nonrecurring / Fund
Affected
Total

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SECTION III: NARRATIVE

BILL SUMMARY

Synopsis:

Senate Bill 377 (SB 377) creates a statewide Digital Learning Task Force; establishes membership; assigns duties; and makes an appropriation to make recommendations to the legislature and the governor by December 15, 2013.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $30.0 thousand contained in this bill is a nonrecurring expense appropriated from the general fund for expenditure in Fiscal Years (FY) 2013 and 2014. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY14 shall revert to the general fund.

It is unclear if the appropriation is sufficient to accommodate the per diem and mileage expenses of fourteen task force members while also providing sufficient funds for the selection and performance of a contractor pursuant to Section 1, Paragraphs F and G.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Multiple agencies and statewide programs exist that are working to address similar objectives associated with digital learning and literacy in New Mexico with no single point of oversight defined to ensure duplication of effort is avoided and resources leveraged to meet common objectives and outcomes.

Broadband availability throughout the state of NM is a significant requirement for the implementation and success of digital learning and literacy. New Mexico Department of Information Technology (DoIT) and the Public School Facilities Authority (PSFA) are managing the NM Broadband Program (NMBBP) and PSFA Information Technology Advisory Group (ITAG) respectively, addressing both statewide broadband coverage and educational information technologies in schools. Both entities should be included, at a minimum, in the list of staff to provide technical assistance, Section 1 Paragraph F.

In August 2012, the Statewide Broadband Summit was convened by the New Mexico State Library, as part of its Fast Forward New Mexico (FFNM) project that is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The outcome of this summit produced 18 recommendations, which included Digital Literacy, that are intended to contribute to a NM DoIT Statewide Strategic Plan scheduled for completion in late 2013 as part of the NMBBP. These recommendations listed in the Final Report, August 3, 2012, should be considered and addressed as part of the comprehensive study identified in Section 1, Paragraph G.

The date of appointment for the Digital Learning Task Force is unknown which has the potential to significantly compress the time available and required for adequate research in order to make legitimate and accurate recommendations to the legislature and the governor by December 15, 2013.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

None Noted.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

None Noted.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

SB 147 Education Technology Definitions (Candelaria) relates as it would expand uses of local GO bonds, SB-9 and HB-33 funds to be expended for education technology.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

None Noted.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

None Noted.

ALTERNATIVES

It may be appropriate to expand the development scope of the NM DoIT Statewide Strategic Plan scheduled for completion in late 2013 as part of the NMBBP to include Digital Learning, or align the development of the comprehensive study from the proposed Digital Learning Task Force with the NM DoIT Statewide Strategic Plan to avoid duplication of effort and consuming limited resources for information that will be common to both.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

Recommendations for implementation of a statewide digital learning system and comprehensive study identified in Section 1, Paragraphs F and G through the proposed Digital Learning Task Force would not occur.

AMENDMENTS

Include NM DoIT and Public School Facilities Authority in the list of staff identified in Section1, Paragraph E