RENAMING THE LEGISLATOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AT THE NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE THE "GENERAL RICHARD T. KNOWLES LEGISLATIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM".

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

Section 1. Section 21-12-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, Chapter 44, Section 1 and Laws 1989, Chapter 45, Section 1) is amended to read:

"21-12-11. GENERAL RICHARD T. KNOWLES LEGISLATIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CREATED--PURPOSE.--There is created the "General Richard T. Knowles legislative scholarship program" at the New Mexico military institute. The purpose of the program is to increase the number of New Mexico residents attending the New Mexico military institute and to increase the opportunity for promising young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in a military education and environment."

Section 2. Section 21-12-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, Chapter 44, Section 2 and Laws 1989, Chapter 45, Section 2) is amended to read:

"21-12-12. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION--CRITERIA.--

A. The General Richard T. Knowles legislative scholarship program shall be administered by the board of regents of the New Mexico military institute. The board of regents shall establish one hundred twelve scholarships available to New Mexico residents, one scholarship available for each state legislative district.

B. Annually, each state legislator may nominate four prospective scholarship recipients to the board of regents of the New Mexico military institute. If a legislator has no applicant from his or her district, that senator or representative may choose to nominate an applicant from a senate or representative district contiguous to his or her own, thus maintaining geographical diversity in the corps of cadets while affording a greater opportunity for more New Mexicans to receive a scholarship.

C. Scholarships shall be awarded to qualifying New Mexico residents for a term not to exceed four years.

D. The board of regents shall establish criteria for the awarding of scholarships. Criteria shall include scholastic ability, faculty recommendations, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, school honors and extracurricular activities."

Section 3. Section 21-12-13 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1990, Chapter 109, Section 1) is amended to read:

"21-12-13. FUND CREATED.--The "legislative scholarship fund" is created. No money appropriated to the fund or accruing to it through gifts, grants or bequests shall be transferred to another fund. The fund shall not revert at the end of any fiscal year. Any interest earned from investment of the fund shall be credited to the legislative scholarship fund for the purpose of implementing the General Richard T. Knowles legislative scholarship program. Money in the fund is appropriated to the New Mexico military institute."

HB 12

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