HOUSE BILL 481

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

T. Ryan Lane

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; AMENDING THE READING MATERIALS FUND TO FUND ELEMENTARY LITERACY MATERIALS ALIGNED TO THE SCIENCE OF READING; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-15-8.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2006, Chapter 58, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "22-15-8.2. READING MATERIALS FUND--CREATED--PURPOSE--APPLICATIONS.--

          A. The "reading materials fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations. Money in the fund shall not revert to any other fund at the end of a fiscal year. The fund shall be administered by the department, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to assist public schools that want to change their [reading programs] elementary literacy materials from the current adoption. Money in the fund shall be disbursed on warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education or the secretary's authorized representative.

          B. A school district that wants to use a scientific research-based core comprehensive, intervention or supplementary reading program aligned with explicit, systematic, diagnostic, cumulative instruction in phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, syllable types, morphology, semantics and syntax may apply to the department for money from the reading materials fund to purchase the necessary instructional materials for the selected program. A school district may apply for funding for its reading program if:

                (1) core, intervention and supplemental materials are [highly rated by either the Oregon reading first center or the Florida center for reading research or the materials are listed in the international dyslexia association's framework for informed reading and language instruction] on the advisory list of instructional programming created by the Colorado department of education;

                (2) the district selects no more than two comprehensive published core reading programs; and

                (3) the district has established a literacy professional development plan [describing how it will provide teachers with professional development] that includes a detailed framework for structured literacy training and ongoing support in the effective use of the selected instructional materials."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000) is appropriated from the public education reform fund to the reading materials fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2024 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purpose of the reading materials fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the public education reform fund.

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