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 715, enacted by the Forty-Fourth Legislature, First Session, 1999.

This legislation would have required the State Department of Education to use the Incentives for School Improvement Fund for corrective actions and interventions in certain school districts. This bill has been vetoed to avoid dilution of the Incentives for School Improvement Fund.

Rather than interventions based on appropriations, policymakers would be better served to explore remedial actions for poor performing schools including school reconstitution, takeover and even closure, if warranted.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor