SENATE MEMORIAL 75

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

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WORK WITH THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW THE ADEQUACY AND APPROPRIATENESS OF BRANCH AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE STATUTES.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico statutes relating to the organization and operation of two-year post-secondary institutions and programs have evolved in a haphazard manner over many years; and

     WHEREAS, these statutes include those for branch community colleges in Chapter 21, Article 14 NMSA 1978, first codified by the New Mexico legislature in 1957, under which four branch community college campuses of New Mexico state university, four campuses of the university of New Mexico and two campuses of eastern New Mexico university currently operate; and

     WHEREAS, these statutes include the Community College Act, enacted by the New Mexico legislature in 1963, under which six locally governed community colleges currently operate; and

     WHEREAS, these statutes include the Technical and Vocational Institute Act, enacted in 1965, under which the central New Mexico community college currently operates; and

     WHEREAS, these statutes include the Off-Campus Instruction Act, enacted in 1982, under which no institutions currently operate; and

     WHEREAS, these statutes also include the College District Tax Act, the Learning Center Act and the Workforce Training Act, among others; and

      WHEREAS, some provisions in these statutes may be obsolete, duplicative or no longer relevant to current practice; and

     WHEREAS, there is a need to review and update these statutes to assure the legislature that the legal framework relating to two-year post-secondary institutions is adequate to meet current and future requirements;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the higher education department, in cooperation with the state's two-year post-secondary institutions and the public education department, where appropriate, be requested to conduct a thorough review of all relevant New Mexico statutes for adequacy and appropriateness and to develop recommendations for modification to be presented to the second session of the forty-ninth legislature.

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