SENATE BILL 107
57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Harold Pope and Joy Garratt and Yanira Gurrola
and Anita Gonzales
FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE
AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION; ESTABLISHING THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY FOR INNOVATION IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS; PROVIDING THAT ALL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE ADMINISTER PROGRAMS PROVIDED FOR BY LAW; CREATING THE STEM INNOVATION NETWORK; DEFINING TERMS; DESIGNATING THE PRINCIPAL HUB OF THE NETWORK; ASSIGNING DUTIES TO THE PRINCIPAL HUB AND STEERING COMMITTEE; PROVIDING FOR THE SELECTION OF REGIONAL AND TRIBAL HUBS; REQUIRING ANNUAL REPORTING; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 21-1-27.11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 60, Section 1) is amended to read:
"21-1-27.11. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.--
A. A "center of excellence" is established at the following higher education institutions:
(1) the New Mexico institute of mining and technology to work toward developing and promoting innovation in and expanding cybersecurity industries;
(2) New Mexico state university to work toward developing and promoting innovation in and expanding sustainable agricultural industries;
(3) San Juan college to work toward developing and promoting innovation in and expanding sustainable and renewable energy industries; [and]
(4) the university of New Mexico health sciences center-affiliated entity, the New Mexico bioscience authority, to continue its work toward developing, promoting innovation in and expanding the bioscience industry in New Mexico; and
(5) New Mexico state university to work toward innovations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
B. Each center of excellence provided for in Subsection A of this section shall foster excellence in the noted field through:
(1) collaboration among leaders of the state's agencies, higher education institutions, business sector, national laboratories and community organizations;
(2) the development by those leaders of strategies to accomplish that aim; [and]
(3) the execution of those strategies; and
(4) the administration of programs provided for by law.
C. Each center of excellence provided for in Subsection A of this section shall:
(1) actively seek, and may accept, public and private funding for its work;
(2) establish short- and long-term goals for job creation, business creation and private equity investment outcomes of its work; and
(3) beginning in 2020, report annually to the higher education department and the legislative finance committee on its goals and achievements."
SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] STEM INNOVATION NETWORK CREATED--DUTIES OF PRINCIPAL HUB AND STEERING COMMITTEE--SELECTION OF REGIONAL AND TRIBAL HUBS--REPORTING.--
A. As used in this section, "network" means the STEM innovation network.
B. The "STEM innovation network" is created to foster access to education and employment opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to students and educators. The network shall:
(1) consist of no more than eight regional hubs and a tribal hub for each of the federally recognized Indian tribes, nations and pueblos in the state;
(2) identify, connect and strengthen existing educational programs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics;
(3) support the provision of additional in-school and out-of-school educational opportunities for students;
(4) coordinate with employers statewide to expand career opportunities for students and ensure that students are equipped for employment in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and
(5) connect educators with professional development opportunities.
C. The center of excellence at New Mexico state university for innovation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is the principal hub for the network and shall manage the network and provide technical assistance for the regional and tribal hubs and staff for the steering committee.
D. A regional or tribal hub shall be a local government or a tribal or private organization or a consortium of public and private organizations that serves as a point of contact for public schools, post-secondary educational institutions, employers and science, technology, engineering or mathematics industry representatives and connects students with educational and employment opportunities.
E. The steering committee consists of:
(1) the secretary of public education or the secretary's designee;
(2) the secretary of higher education or the secretary's designee;
(3) the secretary of workforce solutions or the secretary's designee;
(4) the secretary of early childhood education and care or the secretary's designee;
(5) the secretary of Indian affairs or the secretary's designee;
(6) a representative of the mathematics and science advisory council in the mathematics and science bureau of the public education department selected by the council;
(7) a member of the faculty at a state public post-secondary educational institution with expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics appointed by the secretary of higher education;
(8) a person with business or professional experience in an industry related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics appointed by the secretary of workforce solutions; and
(9) the following persons appointed by the secretary of public education:
(a) a public school teacher;
(b) a person with expertise in providing out-of-school programming and services related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics;
(c) a charter school administrator or teacher;
(d) a representative of the Navajo Nation with expertise in education;
(e) a representative of the Mescalero Apache Tribe with expertise in education;
(f) a representative of the Jicarilla Apache Nation with expertise in education; and
(g) a representative of the all pueblo council of governors with expertise in education.
F. The steering committee shall meet at least once each quarter of the fiscal year and adopt an annual work plan and program requirements and priorities. Members of the steering committee who are not public employees or otherwise reimbursed for per diem and mileage expenses are entitled to receive per diem and mileage reimbursement at the same rate as state employees in accordance with the Per Diem and Mileage Act and shall not receive any other compensation, perquisite or allowance.
G. Selection of the regional and tribal hubs shall be as follows:
(1) the steering committee shall approve an application process for regional and tribal hubs that includes criteria for eligibility;
(2) the principal hub shall administer the application process and make reasonable efforts to conduct outreach to Indian tribes, nations and pueblos, conduct an initial review of applications received and make recommendations to the steering committee for selection; and
(3) the steering committee shall select the regional and tribal hubs from the applications submitted. H. The principal hub shall prepare an annual report regarding the development of the network, goals and achievements of the regional and tribal hubs and the activities of the steering committee. A copy of the report shall be provided to the governor and legislature.
SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--Six million dollars ($6,000,000) is appropriated from the public education reform fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to support the STEM innovation network. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2028 shall revert to the public education reform fund.
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