HOUSE MEMORIAL 20

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Ray Begaye

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY ISSUES REGARDING THE GUARDIANSHIP OF SECONDARY STUDENTS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

     WHEREAS, federal, state and tribal laws address the ability of parents to control and be responsible for the actions of their children under the age of eighteen; and

     WHEREAS, existing federal, state and tribal laws may not adequately enable parents of children eighteen years of age and older who have not completed their secondary education to be responsible for the actions of their children prior to completion of secondary education; and

     WHEREAS, without the legal supervision and responsibility of their parents, some children eighteen years of age and older who have not completed their secondary education may choose unwisely to leave their family home and not complete their secondary education;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee be requested to undertake the following tasks during the 2006 interim:

          A. review federal, state and tribal laws regarding parents' responsibility for and authority over their children eighteen years of age and older who have not completed their secondary education;

          B. determine whether existing federal, state and tribal laws adequately protect the best interests of parents and their children eighteen years of age and older who have not completed their secondary education; and

          C. consider appropriate revisions to state law, if any, that may be necessary to better protect the best interests of parents and their children eighteen years of age and older who have not completed their secondary education; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chair, vice chair and director of the legislative education study committee.

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