HOUSE MEMORIAL 93

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

INTRODUCED BY

Jason C. Harper

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A YEAR-ROUND LEGISLATIVE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

     WHEREAS, since 1996, more than ninety thousand students from across the state have attended New Mexico public colleges, universities and technical colleges with the help of legislative lottery scholarships; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative lottery scholarship program promotes the effective use of funding toward the pursuit of higher education; and

     WHEREAS, every dollar spent on lottery tickets benefits New Mexico's future and opens doors to new generations of New Mexicans to obtain a college education that might otherwise not have been possible; and

      WHEREAS, a legislative lottery scholarship pays a portion of tuition, up to an undergraduate degree, for students who have obtained a New Mexico diploma of excellence or for high school equivalency credential recipients who immediately attend a New Mexico public college or university; and

     WHEREAS, current legislative lottery scholarships are granted for a period of one semester, subject to revocation for failure to maintain eligibility, and may be renewed until the award recipient has received seven semesters of scholarship awards at a four-year institution, or until the student graduates with a bachelor's degree from an eligible institution, whichever comes first; and

     WHEREAS, a student attending a community college is eligible for three semesters of scholarship awards; and

     WHEREAS, a year-round legislative lottery scholarship would provide funding for summer courses, which would allow students to graduate sooner;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of higher education be requested to convene a task force to study the feasibility of implementing a year-round legislative lottery scholarship program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to compile reports of collected data on the possible effect of a year-round legislative lottery scholarship program on the provision of additional opportunities for students pursuing higher education in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be chaired by the secretary of higher education; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to provide a report and present its findings and recommendations on the feasibility of implementing a year-round legislative lottery scholarship program to the appropriate interim committee by November 1, 2015; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of higher education.

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