HOUSE BILL 253

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson and Kelly K. Fajardo

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A STATEWIDE HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM.

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

     SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Eleven million four hundred ninety-three thousand dollars ($11,493,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the higher education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2020 through 2023 for Santa Fe community college to administer the SUN PATH consortium program, which is a nationally recognized program that breaks down higher education and work force silos, provides student-centered, guided career pathways, enables students to complete certificate or degree programs faster, promotes collaboration and efficient governance via eleven community colleges and New Mexico employers and provides a sound education and workforce alignment investment.

          B. Santa Fe community college shall initially focus funding to sustain and expand community college participation in SUN PATH and on accelerating students through health care training programs at community colleges directly into the workforce but shall expand the program by region as appropriate to other in-demand industries such as energy, information technology and the elementary and secondary education workforce. Funding shall be used to leverage funds of state institutions of higher education and the workforce solutions department and other available funding. Participating in SUN PATH requires community colleges to collect, measure and analyze data on program and student outcomes. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2023 shall revert to the general fund.

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