HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 703

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVIDING THAT THE RURAL EDUCATION DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SHALL ASSIST RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CERTAIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS.

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

     Section 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] RURAL EDUCATION DIVISION--SERVICE TO RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.--

          A. As used in this section and for federal funding purposes, "rural school district" means a school district with a membership of one thousand or fewer students or a school district located in a county with a population density that is at or below thirty people per square mile and whose largest municipality has a population of fewer than thirty thousand as of the last federal decennial census.

          B. In addition to any other duties provided by law or assigned by the secretary, the rural education division shall assist rural school districts in receiving all federal funds available to rural school districts. An individual public school, including a charter school, that has one thousand or fewer students and that is located on tribal land is entitled to assistance from the rural education division."

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