AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; AUTHORIZING A TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE DISTRICT BOARD TO ADOPT OR CHANGE THE NAME OF THE INSTITUTE.

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

     Section 1. Section 21-16-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1963, Chapter 108, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

     "21-16-6. BOARD--POWERS AND DUTIES.--

          A. The board shall:

                (1) determine the financial and educational policies of the technical and vocational institute and provide for the execution of these policies by selecting a competent president for the institute and, upon the president's recommendation, shall employ other administrative personnel, instructional staff or other personnel as may be needed for the operation, maintenance and administration of the institute;

                (2) fix fee rates and tuition rates for students;

                (3) have authority to issue certificates of proficiency;

                (4) have authority to issue associate of arts, associate of science and associate of applied science degrees; provided that associate degree programs shall be approved by the commission on higher education;

                (5) have authority to accept gifts, receive federal aid or other aid and purchase, hold, sell and rent property and equipment in the name of the technical and vocational institute district;

                (6) promote the general welfare of the technical and vocational institute for the best interest of educational service to the people of the technical and vocational institute district; and

                (7) adopt a name for or change the name of the technical and vocational institute or the institute's campuses, provided no name is adopted in honor of a living person.

          B. Whenever the board changes the name of a technical vocational institute or the institute's campuses:

                (1) functions, personnel, appropriations, money, records, equipment and other property of the formerly named institute or campuses shall be transferred to the newly named institute or campuses;

                (2) existing contracts and agreements in effect as to the formerly named institute or campuses shall be binding on the newly named institute or campuses; and

                (3) references in state or local law to the formerly named institute or campuses shall be deemed to refer to the newly named institute or campuses."