HOUSE BILL 561

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Thomas A. Garcia

AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION; CREATING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND; ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR AWARDING FUNDS FOR SCHOOL SECURITY GRANTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     Section 1. PUBLIC SCHOOL SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND--ADMINISTRATION.--

          A. The "public school security infrastructure fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the public education department. Money in the fund is appropriated to the public education department to be expended pursuant to this section as awards for school security grants. The public education department may expend no more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in a fiscal year from the fund to administer the fund and implement the provisions of this section.

          B. The public school security infrastructure fund comprises money appropriated by the legislature and grants, gifts, donations or bequests made to the fund. The interest and other earnings on the fund are appropriated to the public school security infrastructure fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

          C. The secretary of public education shall:

                (1) request that school security grant proposals be submitted to the public education department no later than June 30 of each year for construction or installation of security improvements to prevent intruders from entering schools or student transport vehicles and endangering students, teachers or other school personnel, including projects to remodel, renovate or otherwise add to existing public school structures or to reinforce or secure vehicles owned by the school district used to transport students;

                (2) establish criteria for the form and content of the school security grant proposals; and

                (3) identify the schools and school districts to which grants will be awarded and disburse money from the public school security infrastructure fund for school security grants no later than December 1 of each year.

          D. Grants from the public school security infrastructure fund shall be made by the secretary of public education based on completeness of proposals, priority of the need for the project and soundness of the proposed project. No money from the fund shall be granted to operate programs or for routine maintenance of existing facilities.

          E. Expenditures from the fund shall be made by warrant issued by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education.

      Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public school security infrastructure fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2009 and subsequent fiscal years for the purposes of that fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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