HOUSE BILL 270

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

James E. Smith and Rod Montoya

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATIVE LOTTERY TUITION SCHOLARSHIP; DECOUPLING SCHOLARSHIP AWARD AMOUNTS FROM TUITION COSTS.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 21-21N-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2014, Chapter 80, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

     "21-21N-4. TUITION SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT--FUND.--

          A. Prior to June 1 of each year, based on the amount appropriated by the legislature from the fund and on the projected enrollment at all public post-secondary educational institutions, the department shall:

                (1) determine the total amount of money available for all tuition scholarships for qualified students;

                (2) determine the [uniform percentage by which to calculate tuition scholarships for qualified students attending any public post-secondary educational institution] award amount for research institutions, comprehensive institutions and community colleges; and

                (3) notify all public post-secondary educational institutions of the determinations made pursuant to Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection.

          B. In determining distribution and award amounts for the tuition scholarship program, the department shall:

                (1) maintain the minimum fund balance pursuant to Section 21-21N-5 NMSA 1978;

                (2) distribute to all public post-secondary educational institutions an amount not to exceed the remaining balance in the fund; and

                (3) subject to the provisions of Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, distribute to each public post-secondary educational institution an amount based on:

                     (a) the projected enrollment at each four-year public post-secondary educational institution of qualified students in their first through seventh program semesters, including qualified students in their fourth through seventh program semesters who transferred from community colleges;

                     (b) the projected enrollment at each community college of qualified students in their first through third program semesters; and

                     (c) [a uniform percentage of the average of in-state tuition costs charged by: 1) research institutions for each research institution; 2) comprehensive institutions for each comprehensive institution; and 3) community colleges for each community college, except that the uniform percentage for a two-year state educational institution shall be based on the uniform percentage for community colleges] an award for each scholarship recipient distributed in amounts as follows: 1) one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per scholarship per program semester for a student enrolled at a research institution; 2) one thousand twenty dollars ($1,020) per scholarship per program semester for a student enrolled at a comprehensive institution; and 3) three hundred eighty dollars ($380) per scholarship per program semester for a student enrolled at a community college.

          C. If the total amount available pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of this section is less than the amount calculated in Subsection B of this section, the department shall decrease the scholarship award amounts in a manner that maintains the distribution in the same proportions as provided in Subparagraph (c) of Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of this section.

          D. If the total amount available pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of this section is more than the amount calculated in Subsection B of this section, the department shall increase the scholarship award amounts in a manner that maintains the distribution in the same proportions as provided in Subparagraph (c) of Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of this section."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2018.

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