SENATE BILL 307

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; EXPANDING THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE TEACHER PREPARATION AFFORDABILITY ACT TO INCLUDE LICENSED TEACHERS; REMOVING THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN ELIGIBLE STUDENT BE ENROLLED AT LEAST HALF-TIME; PROVIDING TECHNICAL CLEANUP.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 21-21O-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 193, Section 7) is amended to read:

     "21-21O-1. SHORT TITLE.--[Sections 7 through 14 of this act] Chapter 21, Article 21O NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Teacher Preparation Affordability Act"."

     SECTION 2. Section 21-21O-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 193, Section 8) is amended to read:

     "21-21O-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Teacher Preparation Affordability Act:

          A. "department" means the higher education department;

          B. "eligible student" means a New Mexico resident who is enrolled or enrolling [at least half-time] in an accredited public education department-approved teacher preparation program at a New Mexico public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college at any time later than one hundred twenty days following high school graduation or the award of a high school equivalency credential and who is pursuing a teaching degree or is a licensed teacher and is pursuing a graduate degree;

          C. "scholarship" means a teacher preparation affordability scholarship; and

          D. "tribal college" means a tribally, federally or congressionally chartered tribal post-secondary educational institution located in New Mexico that is accredited by the [north central association of colleges and schools] higher learning commission."

     SECTION 3. Section 21-21O-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 193, Section 9) is amended to read:

     "21-21O-3. CONDITIONS FOR ELIGIBILITY.--A scholarship may be awarded to an eligible student who:

          A. has not earned appropriate educational credentials to be licensed as a teacher by the public education department or is a licensed teacher and is pursuing a graduate degree;

          B. has demonstrated financial need consistent with the criteria promulgated by the department; and

          C. has complied with other rules promulgated by the department to carry out the provisions of the Teacher Preparation Affordability Act."

     SECTION 4. Section 21-21O-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 193, Section 12) is amended to read:

     "21-21O-6. TERMINATION OF SCHOLARSHIP.--A scholarship is terminated upon occurrence of one or more of the following:

          A. the eligible student withdraws from the public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college or from the teacher preparation program [or the eligible student fails to remain at least a half-time student];

          B. the eligible student fails to achieve satisfactory academic progress; or

          C. the eligible student is in substantial noncompliance with the Teacher Preparation Affordability Act or the rules promulgated pursuant to that act."

     SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2023.

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