HOUSE BILL 136

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Derrick J. Lente and D. Wonda Johnson and

Anthony Allison and Patricia Roybal Caballero

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION; CREATING A STATEWIDE COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM FOR AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM CREATED.--

          A. The higher education department, in conjunction with public post-secondary educational institutions and tribal colleges in New Mexico, shall establish an "American Indian college readiness program" open to American Indian high school sophomores and juniors focused on:

                (1) understanding the college admissions application process and strategies for selecting the best institution of higher education for each student;

                (2) issues specific to the transition from high school to college, including sociocultural challenges that American Indian students face and strategies to overcome those challenges;

                (3) strategies for higher education success, including academic skills such as study strategies, classroom note taking, test preparation and time management;

                (4) introduction to college academic requirements and expectations, including academic research and writing requirements; and

                (5) American Indian student resources at New Mexico colleges and universities.

          B. The program shall include summer residential programs of one to two weeks' duration at one or more New Mexico higher education campuses.

          C. The department shall provide by rule for application and other program requirements as determined by the department and its higher education partners.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($650,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the higher education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 to establish and implement the American Indian college readiness program. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2022 shall revert to the general fund.