March 11, 1998

The Honorable Raymond G. Sanchez and

Members of the House of Representatives

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable Speaker and Members of the House:

I have this day VETOED and am returning HOUSE BILL 487, passed by the Forty-Third Legislature, Second Session, 1998.

This legislation proposes to amend the 1996 New Mexico Lottery Tuition Scholarship Law which currently provides vital tuition assistance to full-time New Mexico residents students. While meritorious in intent, the bill is too broad in its scope.

The bill would provide lottery tuition scholarships to graduates of out-of-state high schools whose military-employed parents may no longer be residents of New Mexico. Some evidence of current residency in New Mexico by the parent employed in the armed forces is appropriate and necessary to qualify the out-of-state student for our state’s lottery tuition scholarship.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor

hemv487