SENATE BILL 215

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

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Jane M. Garcia

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL; CREATING A DUAL CREDIT TEXTBOOK FUND; PROVIDING FOR REIMBURSEMENTS TO PUBLIC POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL BOOKSTORES.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DUAL CREDIT TEXTBOOK FUND--CREATED--ADMINISTRATION--REIMBURSEMENTS.--

          A. The "dual credit textbook fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and bequests. The department shall administer the fund, and money in the fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature to provide for annual reimbursements to public post-secondary educational bookstores for the cost of providing textbooks and course supplies for students participating in the dual credit program pursuant to Section 21-1-1.2 NMSA 1978. Money from the fund shall be disbursed by warrant of the secretary of finance and administration upon vouchers signed by the secretary of public education or the secretary's designated representative.

          B. As used in this section, "textbook" includes other educational media as provided by department rule. The cost of shipping and handling charges may be included in the cost of dual credit textbooks and course supplies.

          C. The department shall by rule establish a formula by which available money in the fund is apportioned for the use of students in each school district, charter school, state-supported school and bureau of Indian education high school that participates in the dual credit program. Each year's apportionment is subject to available money in the fund. The department shall reimburse public post-secondary educational bookstores for providing textbooks for students in the dual credit program according to procedures established by rule promulgated by the department in collaboration with the higher education department. The rule shall include provisions for:

                (1) the schedule and amount of the reimbursements;

                (2) the assignment of ownership interests in and the tracking of inventory and possession of the textbooks; and

                (3) an accounting of the reimbursements to the bookstores.

          D. By December 1 of each year, both departments shall make a report to the governor and the legislature on the status of the fund."

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