SENATE BILL 377

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

INTRODUCED BY

George K. Munoz

AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION; CREATING THE TRUE TALENT ACCELERATION FUND; CREATING AN ADVISORY COUNCIL; PROVIDING FUNDING FOR DUAL CREDIT COURSES AS THE MEANS TO ACCELERATE STUDENT COMPLETION OF DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS THAT LEAD TO CAREERS OR HIGHER EDUCATION; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] TRUE TALENT ACCELERATION FUND-- CREATED--PURPOSE--ADVISORY COUNCIL APPOINTED.--

          A. The "true talent acceleration fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and income from investment of the fund. The higher education department shall administer the fund, and the fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature. Expenditures from the fund shall be by warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of higher education or the secretary's designated representative.

          B. The purpose of the fund is to:

                (1) provide funding for public post-secondary educational institutions to offset losses incurred by public post-secondary educational institutions in waiving tuition given to high school students in the state's dual credit program;

                (2) support blended advising between high school and public post-secondary educational institutions;

                (3) establish a system of shared metrics for dual credit students between the public education department and higher education department and workforce solutions department, including data-sharing agreements with neighboring states to confirm student outcomes in education and employment; and

                (4) design and implement a marketing plan to inform public high school students and their families and teachers, counselors and administrators about the advantages of taking dual credit courses and the economic payoff of earning a degree or certificate earlier than traditional time without dual credit.

          C. The higher education department shall convene a "true talent advisory council" that includes representatives of the public education department, the higher education department, the workforce solutions department, the economic development department, community organizational leaders and business leaders. The public education department and higher education department shall staff the council. The higher education department shall appoint the chair and the council shall appoint the vice chair and other officers as deemed necessary by the council. The council shall meet at the call of the chair or at the behest of five or more members. Members whose salaries are not paid with state funds are entitled to per diem and mileage at the same rate as state employees, but shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.

          D. The true talent advisory council shall advise the higher education department on:

                (1) funding needs for dual credit courses aligned to programs of study, meta-majors, career and technical education pathways and career clusters as identified by the public education department, higher education department and workforce solutions department that support progress toward a degree or certificate and workforce preparedness;

                (2) dual credit for unrestricted credits, which are those courses offered for academic credit for which the faculty salary is paid by money from the regular instruction and general purposes category and for which the student cost is the regular, on-campus resident tuition;

                (3) compliance with higher learning commission standards for dual credit course delivery; and

                (4) funding recommendations for items listed in Subsection B of this section.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the true talent acceleration fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2020 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the true talent acceleration fund and for expenses of the true talent advisory council and the higher education department in implementing the provisions of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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