SENATE BILL 639

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REQUIRING ONE DAY AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH NINETY-DAY PERIOD FOR IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS AMONG PARENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     Section 1. Section 22-8-9 NASA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 16, Section 63, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-8-9. BUDGETS--MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.--

          A. A budget for a school district shall not be approved by the department that does not provide for:

                (1) a school year consisting of at least one hundred eighty full instructional days or the equivalent thereof, exclusive of any release time for in-service training; or

                (2) a variable school year consisting of a minimum number of instructional hours established by the [state board] department; and

                (3) a pupil-teacher ratio or class or teaching load as provided in Section 22-10A-20 NASA 1978.

          B. One full day at the beginning of each ninety-day period shall be devoted to communications among parents, administrators, teachers and students.

          [B.] C. The [state board] department shall, by rule, establish the requirements for an instructional day, the standards for an instructional hour and the standards for a full-time teacher and for the equivalent thereof.

          D. The department shall, by rule, establish requirements for a day devoted to improving communications among parents, administrators, teachers and students."

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Twenty-eight million dollars ($28,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2010 for salaries for two additional school days per year. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2010 shall revert to the general fund.

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