45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; ESTABLISHING A SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FOR DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS; CREATING A FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAM--DISTRIBUTIONS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS--FUND CREATED.--

A. The "safe schools fund" is created in the state treasury and shall be administered by the department of education. The fund shall consist of appropriations, gifts, grants and any other money distributed or accruing to this fund. Income from investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

B. Money in the safe schools fund is appropriated to the department of education to establish a program to distribute awards to public schools for the implementation of safe schools programs as identified in each school's comprehensive safe schools plan. The department shall develop procedures and adopt rules for the application and award of money from the fund and determine criteria for evaluation of safe schools programs.

C. Disbursements from the fund shall be made by warrant of the department of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the superintendent of public instruction. Any balances in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain credited to the fund."

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One million dollars ($1,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the safe schools fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 and succeeding fiscal years for the purpose of distributing funds to public schools for the implementation of safe schools programs as identified in each school's comprehensive safe schools plan. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.

Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2001.