SENATE MEMORIAL 96

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Benny Shendo, Jr.

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT A TASK FORCE BE CONVENED TO STUDY THE CREATION OF A HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FOR AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS.

     WHEREAS, American Indians enroll in, attend and graduate from college at proportionately lower rates than any other ethnic group in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, the average annual salary of American Indian high school graduates without a bachelor degree is twenty thousand seven hundred twenty-one dollars ($20,721) and with a bachelor degree is forty-five thousand two hundred fourteen dollars ($45,214); and

     WHEREAS, the receipt of a college education and degree benefits more than the individual in an American Indian community, where members serve as role models and mentors to others; and

     WHEREAS, American Indian populations experience a more difficult transition to college life than other populations, where the perspective of the majority governs academic and student life; and

     WHEREAS, American Indians in the state receive the lottery tuition scholarship at proportionately lower rates than other student populations; and 

     WHEREAS, American Indian populations experience a higher rate of poverty than other populations, which can render college cost-prohibitive; and 

     WHEREAS, tuition waiver programs for American Indians exist in other states, including Colorado, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana and Oklahoma, but not in this state; and 

     WHEREAS, American Indian students would benefit from a dedicated scholarship fund to use when they are ready for college; and

     WHEREAS, fourteen tribes have gaming compacts with the state pursuant to the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act requiring the tribes to share with the state part of their gaming revenues; and

     WHEREAS, in 2012, the state's share of the tribes' gaming revenues was sixty-eight million three hundred thousand dollars ($68,300,000), which the tribes paid in accordance with the revenue-sharing provisions of the gaming compacts;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Indian affairs department be requested to form a task force to study the creation of a higher education scholarship fund for American Indian students who are state residents; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be co-chaired by the secretary of Indian affairs or the secretary's designee and the director of American Indian student services at the university of New Mexico, who shall appoint as members of the task force:

          A. a representative from the legislative education study committee;

          B. a representative from the institute of American Indian arts;

          C. a representative from Navajo technical college;

          D. a representative from Dine college;

          E. a representative from southwestern Indian polytechnic institute;

          F. a representative from central New Mexico community college;

          G. a representative from northern New Mexico college;

          H. three representatives from the eight northern Indian pueblos council; 

          I. three representatives from the ten southern pueblos council;

          J. a representative from the Navajo Nation; and

          K. a representative from the higher education department; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force study the feasibility, economic impact and benefits of:

          A. funding a higher education scholarship fund with ten percent of the state's share of the tribes' gaming revenues each year for American Indian students who are state residents; and

          B. permitting students to use the scholarship at out-of-state or private higher educational institutions; provided that the scholarship amount is capped at an amount charged for attendance at an in-state public institution of higher education; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the Indian affairs department, the American Indian student services at the university of New Mexico, the institute of American Indian arts, the legislative education study committee, Navajo technical college, Dine college, southwestern Indian polytechnic institute, central New Mexico community college, northern New Mexico college, the eight northern Indian pueblos council, the ten southern pueblos council, the Navajo Nation and the higher education department.

- 4 -