RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; CREATING THE WASTE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CONSORTIUM.

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

Section 1. WASTE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CONSORTIUM CREATED--PURPOSE.--

A. The "waste management education and research consortium" is created and shall be a division of New Mexico state university.

B. Participating institutions in the consortium shall be New Mexico state university, the university of New Mexico, New Mexico institute of mining and technology, Dine college, Sandia national laboratories and Los Alamos national laboratory. The purposes of the consortium are to:

(1) engage in theoretical and practical education of and research on environmental and natural resource issues;

(2) disseminate knowledge acquired through educational programs;

(3) provide assistance in efforts to address environmental and natural resource problems; and

(4) cooperate with state and federal agencies.

C. The board of regents of New Mexico state university shall prepare reports showing the progress and condition of the consortium as the board deems necessary. The reports of the consortium may be printed and distributed by the board as appropriate, and revenue from the sale of the reports shall be paid into the account of New Mexico state university.

D. The consortium may receive appropriations from the legislature through the board and may receive any or other items of value from public or private sources.