HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 400

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

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CREATING THE MEDIA LITERACY ADVISORY COMMITTEE; PROVIDING DUTIES TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PERTAINING TO MEDIA LITERACY EDUCATION.

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

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--MEDIA LITERACY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED--MEMBERSHIP--DUTIES.--

          A. The "media literacy advisory committee" is created. The media literacy advisory committee shall advise the public education department on media literacy in public schools. The committee shall function from July 1, 2019 through September 1, 2020.

          B. The secretary of public education shall appoint a maximum of fifteen members to the media literacy advisory committee, which may include:

                (1) a staff member from the public education department who works with educational technology and media literacy;

                (2) a curriculum and instruction representative from the public education department;

                (3) a public school student representative;

                (4) a public school teacher;

                (5) a public school administrator;

                (6) an educational technologist;

                (7) a public school librarian;

                (8) a media literacy expert;

                (9) a representative from a teacher organization;

                (10) a representative from a parent organization;

                (11) a representative from a children's organization;

                (12) a representative from a health organization;

                (13) a representative from a social work organization;

                (14) a representative from a counseling organization;

                (15) a representative from a substance abuse organization;

                (16) a representative from the department of health;

                (17) a representative from a state educational institution;

                (18) a representative from a community college;

                (19) a representative from a literacy organization;

                (20) a representative from the information technology sector;

                (21) an attorney licensed to practice law in New Mexico;

                (22) a tribal representative;

                (23) a special education expert;

                (24) an English language learner expert; and

                (25) a homeless youth and families representative.

          C. The chair of the media literacy advisory committee shall be elected by the committee. The committee shall meet at the call of the chair.

          D. Members of the media literacy advisory committee are entitled to receive per diem and mileage as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.

          E. The secretary of public education shall provide staff support for the media literacy advisory committee in the performance of its duties.

          F. A simple majority of the media literacy advisory committee members constitutes a quorum. A member of the committee shall abstain from voting or the member's vote shall be disqualified on any matter in which the member has a pecuniary interest.

          G. Members of the media literacy advisory committee shall serve from the time of appointment until September 1, 2020.

          H. The media literacy advisory committee shall meet at least four times before September 1, 2020. The committee shall comply with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act.

     SECTION 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.--

          A. The public education department shall review and update the state kindergarten through twelfth grade learning standards for educational technology that align with definitions of media literacy, national standards and state education standards in all subjects. The department shall consult with the media literacy advisory committee in reviewing the standards.

          B. The public education department shall review rules and policies pertaining to media literacy, including electronic resources and internet safety, and encourage each school district to review school district policies pertaining to media literacy on an annual basis.

          C. The public education department shall develop guidelines for professional development for teachers, including librarians, focused on integrating media literacy education across all grades and content areas. The department shall approve professional development and ensure that it aligns with the department's standards and benchmarks.

          D. The public education department shall survey school administrators, teachers, librarians and educational technologists to determine how media literacy education is integrated in public school curricula. The department shall use the survey information to determine how to increase access to media literacy education across all grades and content areas in public schools.

          E. The public education department shall consult with the media literacy advisory committee to develop the survey contents.

          F. The public education department shall report to the legislative education study committee by September 1, 2020 on the department's and media literacy advisory committee's progress and deliver its final report to the governor and the legislative education study committee no later than November 1, 2020.

          G. As used in this section, "media literacy" means the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create and communicate with media and digital products.

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