HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 22

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Ray Begaye

FOR THE INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDE THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES AND THE TRIBAL SCHOOLS WITH INPUT PRIOR TO MAKING MAJOR REGULATORY CHANGES AFFECTING THE STATE'S NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS.

     WHEREAS, many of the public education department's education policy and regulation decisions affecting Native American students are made without adequate consideration of costs to the tribal schools or the benefit to Native American students; and 

     WHEREAS, Native American community and tribal school input is a valuable contribution to the creation of public school policy and regulations affecting Native American students; and

     WHEREAS, good public policy dictates that, prior to making major regulatory changes affecting Native American students, the public education department provide the Native American communities and the tribal schools with sufficient time and opportunity to submit input to the public education department; and

     WHEREAS, good public policy also dictates that the Native American communities and the tribal schools be informed about public school policies and regulations affecting Native American students so that they may provide their guidance to the public education department; and

     WHEREAS, Native American community and tribal school involvement in state education policy and regulation affecting Native American students provides an independent understanding of the costs and benefits of various regulations and whether the regulations originate with the public education department or from state statute;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to seek the Native American communities' and the tribal schools' input prior to making major regulatory changes affecting Native American students in the state's public schools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department provide assessments of the costs and benefits of proposed regulations, prior to enactment of the regulations, to the Native American communities, the tribal schools and the legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of public education report all action taken with regard to this memorial to the interim Indian affairs committee prior to the first session of the forty-seventh legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be distributed to the secretary of public education and the co-chairs of the interim Indian affairs committee.

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