SENATE BILL 133

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; DIRECTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO TO FUND A STUDY REGARDING THE FEASIBILITY OF A PROGRAM ALLOWING BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE RECIPIENTS TO MATRICULATE DIRECTLY TO DENTAL SCHOOL FOR A DOCTOR OF DENTAL SCIENCE OR DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY DEGREE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--DENTAL DEGREE STUDY--FISCAL ANALYSIS--REPORTING.--The health sciences center at the university of New Mexico shall conduct a study, including a fiscal impact analysis, of the feasibility of establishing at the university of New Mexico a program to allow qualified students to matriculate directly from a bachelor of arts degree program to dental school to obtain a doctor of dental science or doctor of dental surgery degree. The vice president of the university of New Mexico's health sciences center shall present the results of that study to the interim legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee by September 1, 2011.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Five thousand dollars ($5,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of regents of the university of New Mexico for expenditure in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to fund a study of the feasibility of implementing a program at the university of New Mexico to allow qualified students to matriculate directly from a bachelor of arts degree program to dental school to obtain a doctor of dental science or doctor of dental surgery degree. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2012 shall revert to the general fund.

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