SENATE BILL 37

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Michael Padilla

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; CREATING A PILOT PROJECT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS TO WORK IN SCHOOLS WITH ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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] SOCIAL WORKERS IN SCHOOLS PILOT PROJECT.--

          A. The "social workers in schools pilot project" is created to provide social workers for public school students pursuant to this section. The social workers employed pursuant to the social workers in schools pilot project shall provide:

                (1) counseling, crisis intervention and prevention programs to assist students in addressing the social and psychological issues that may inhibit academic progress and that may lead to truancy and dropping out of school; and

                (2) professional services, which social workers are trained and qualified to provide, to allow teachers the time to focus on teaching the curriculum.

          B. The department shall administer the social workers in schools pilot project.  

          C. For each geographical area designated by a zip code and populated with public school students of whom fifty percent or more are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches under the federal Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, the department shall rank from highest to lowest the annual per capita foreclosure rate in the geographical area as determined by averaging foreclosure rates in the geographical area for the most recent calendar year ending on December 31, and each of the prior three calendar years.

          D. Available funding shall be prioritized and provided according to rank order pursuant to Subsection C of this section for placement of one social worker for every two hundred students.

          E. If a geographical area identified pursuant to this section lies within more than one school district, the school districts located in that area shall enter into a joint powers agreement for the purpose of employing a social worker pursuant to this section.

          F. A social worker employed pursuant to this section shall be qualified and compensated as a licensed instructional support provider.

          G. By December 1 of each year, the department shall report to the legislative education study committee on the progress of the social workers in schools pilot project. 

          H. As used in this section, "school district" includes a state-chartered charter school."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2016 to fund the social workers in schools pilot project. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2016 shall revert to the general fund.

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