AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; PROHIBITING DENIAL OF ADMISSION OR ELIGIBILITY FOR EDUCATION BENEFITS ON ACCOUNT OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.

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

     Section 1. A new section of Chapter 21, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY FOR ADMISSION TO ANY PUBLIC POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION--NONDISCRIMINATION IN ELIGIBILITY FOR EDUCATION BENEFITS.--

          A. A public post-secondary educational institution shall not deny admission to a student on account of the student's immigration status.

          B. Any tuition rate or state-funded financial aid that is granted to residents of New Mexico shall also be granted on the same terms to all persons, regardless of immigration status, who have attended a secondary educational institution in New Mexico for at least one year and who have either graduated from a New Mexico high school or received a general educational development certificate in New Mexico."