April 8, 1999

The Honorable Manny M. Aragon and

Members of the Senate

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable President and Members of the Senate:

I have this day VETOED and am returning SENATE BILL 37, as amended, enacted by the Forty-Fourth Legislature, First Session, 1999.

This legislation directs the State Department of Education to identify obsolete school buses, operated by local school districts, for donation to the State Highway and Transportation Department. The donated school buses would be used to transport enrollees in the New Mexico Works Act. This arrangement would deprive the affected school districts of the trade-in value of the buses selected. Secondly, the value of such vehicles in terms of reliability, safety and economy of operation is at best doubtful. The New Mexico Works program would be better served by other means of transporting its participants.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor