HOUSE BILL 400

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Antonio Maestas and Matthew McQueen and

Sheryl Williams Stapleton and Joy Garratt

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CREATING A MEDIA LITERACY ADVISORY COMMITTEE; PROVIDING DUTIES TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PERTAINING TO MEDIA LITERACY EDUCATION; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--MEDIA LITERACY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED--MEMBERSHIP--DUTIES.--

          A. The "media literacy advisory committee" is created. The media literacy advisory committee shall advise the public education department on media literacy in public schools. The committee shall function from July 1, 2019 through September 1, 2020.

          B. The secretary of public education shall appoint a maximum of fifteen members to the media literacy advisory committee, which may include:

                (1) one educational technician from the public education department;

                (2) one curriculum and instruction representative from the public education department;

                (3) two public school student representatives;

                (4) two public school teachers;

                (5) two public school administrators;

                (6) one educational technologist;

                (7) one public school librarian;

                (8) two media literacy experts;

                (9) one representative from a teacher organization;

                (10) one representative from a parent organization;

                (11) one representative from a children's organization;

                (12) one representative from a health organization;

                (13) one representative from a social work organization;

                (14) one representative from a counseling organization;

                (15) one representative from a substance abuse organization;

                (16) one representative from the department of health;

                (17) one representative from an educational institution;

                (18) one representative from a community college;

                (19) one representative from a literacy organization;

                (20) one representative from the information technology sector; and

                (21) one attorney licensed to practice law in New Mexico.

          C. Members of the media literacy advisory committee are entitled to receive per diem and mileage as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.

          D. The secretary of public education shall provide staff support for the media literacy advisory committee in the performance of its duties.

          E. A simple majority of the media literacy advisory committee members constitutes a quorum. A member of the committee shall abstain from voting or the member's vote shall be disqualified on any matter in which the member has a pecuniary interest.

          F. Members of the media literacy advisory committee shall serve from the time of appointment until September 1, 2020.

          G. The media literacy advisory committee shall meet at least four times before September 1, 2020. Meetings of the committee shall be open to the public.

     SECTION 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.--

          A. The public education department shall review and update the state kindergarten through twelfth grade learning standards for educational technology that align with definitions of media literacy, national standards and state education standards in all subjects. The department shall consult with the media literacy advisory committee in reviewing the standards.

          B. The public education department shall review rules and policies pertaining to media literacy, including electronic resources and internet safety, and encourage each school district to review school district policies pertaining to media literacy on an annual basis.

          C. The public education department shall develop guidelines for professional development for teachers, including librarians, focused on integrating media literacy in the core subjects of English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and foreign languages and non-core subjects of health and computer science. The department shall approve professional development and ensure that it aligns with the department's standards and benchmarks.

          D. The public education department shall survey school administrators, teachers, librarians and educational technologists to determine how media literacy education is integrated in public school curricula. The department shall use the survey information to determine how to increase access to media literacy education across all grades and content areas in public schools.

          E. The public education department shall consult with the media literacy advisory committee to develop the survey contents.

          F. The public education department shall report to the legislative education study committee by September 1, 2020 on the department's and media literacy advisory committee's progress and deliver its final report to the governor and the legislative education study committee no later than November 1, 2020.

          G. As used in this section, "media literacy" means the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and communicate with media and digital products.

     SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. The following amounts are appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for the following purposes:

                (1) eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) to pay costs associated with the media literacy advisory committee; and

                (2) fifty-seven thousand dollars ($57,000) to conduct a statewide survey and develop a report on media literacy practices in public schools.

          B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2021 shall revert to the general fund.

- 6 -