SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 7

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

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 12, SECTION 15 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF CERTAIN SCHOOL BOARDS TO NINE MEMBERS.

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

     SECTION 1. It is proposed to amend Article 12, Section 15 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

          "A. In those local school districts having a population of more than two hundred thousand, as shown by the most recent decennial census, the qualified electors of the districts [may choose to] shall have a local school board composed of [seven] nine members, residents of and elected from single-member districts. [If a majority of the qualified electors voting in such a district election vote to have a seven-member board]

          B. The school district shall be divided into [seven] nine local school board member districts [which] that shall be compact, contiguous and as nearly equal in population as possible. One school board member shall reside within, and be elected from, each local school board member district. Change of residence to a place outside the district from which a school board member was elected shall automatically terminate the service of that school board member, and the office shall be declared vacant.

          C. The school board member districts shall be established by resolution of the local school board with the approval of the state legislature, and may be changed once after each federal decennial census by the local school board with the approval of the state legislature.

          D. The elections required under this amendment shall be called and conducted as provided by law for other local school board elections. The [state board of] public education department shall [by resolution] establish the terms of the first board elected after the creation of such a [seven-member] nine-member board."

     SECTION 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date that may be called for that purpose.