SENATE BILL 163

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Richard C. Martinez

AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; AUTHORIZING NORTHERN NEW MEXICO STATE SCHOOL TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM IN TEACHER EDUCATION; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     Section 1. Section 21-4-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1909, Chapter 97, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

     "21-4-3. NORTHERN NEW MEXICO STATE SCHOOL--PURPOSE OF INSTRUCTION--[ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS] ACADEMIC COURSES--BOARDING OF STUDENTS.--

          A. The courses of [instuction] instruction at northern New Mexico state school at El Rito shall:

                (1) meet the needs of young people of New Mexico who cannot be served adequately by the local public schools in their home communities;

                (2) prepare technical and trade students for occupations and vocations [which] that are useful and necessary in the economy of New Mexico; and

                (3) provide academic, technical and vocational instruction beyond the high school level and, in the event that the university of New Mexico northern branch is dissolved, may in addition [also] provide not more than two years of accredited college level academic instruction at those areas presently served by the university of New Mexico northern branch and by the northern New Mexico state school.

          B. The board of regents [are] of northern New Mexico state school is authorized to provide quarters for the boarding of resident students.

          C. Nothing in this section shall preclude the university of New Mexico from continuing to provide upper college level and graduate courses in any areas in which such courses were being offered prior to January 1, 1977.

          D. The board of regents of northern New Mexico state school is authorized to develop, implement and seek accreditation for a baccalaureate degree program in teacher education for the Espanola campus. No additional authorization from a state agency is required to permit the board of regents to fully implement the baccalaureate program it develops."

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of regents of northern New Mexico state school for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 to fund the development of a baccalaureate degree program in teacher education at the northern New Mexico state school campus in Espanola in Rio Arriba county. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 shall revert to the general fund.

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