May 5, 1999

Mr. President:

Your EDUCATION COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

1. On page 1, line 19, insert the following paragraph:

Section 1. Section 22-8-26 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 16, Section 76, as amended) is amended to read:

"22-8-26. TRANSPORTATION DISTRIBUTION.--

A. Money in the transportation distribution of the public school fund shall be used only for the purpose of making payments to each school district for the to-and-from school transportation costs of students in grades kindergarten through twelve attending public school within the school district and of three- and four-year old children who meet the state board approved criteria and definition of developmentally disabled and for transportation of students to and from their regular attendance centers and the place where vocational education programs are being offered.

B. In the event a school district's transportation allocation exceeds the amount required to meet obligations to provide to-and-from transportation, three- and four-year-old developmentally disabled transportation and [vocation] vocational education transportation, [the district shall revert remaining transportation funds to the transportation distribution in the department] fifty percent of the remaining balance shall be deposited in the transportation emergency fund.

C. Of the excess amount retained by the district, at least twenty-five percent shall be used for to-and-from transporation-related services, excluding salaries and benefits, and up to twenty-five percent may be used for other transportation-related services, excluding salaries and benefits as defined by rule of the department.

[C.] D. In the event the sum of the proposed transportation allocations to each school district exceeds the amounts in the transportation distribution, the allocation to each school district shall be reduced in the proportion that the local school district allocation bears to the total statewide transportation distribution.

[D.] E. Local school boards, with the approval of the state transportation director, may provide additional transportation services pursuant to Section [22-16-2] 22-16-4 NMSA 1978 to meet established program needs.

2. Renumber all other sections.",

and thence referred to the FINANCE COMMITTEE.

Respectfully submitted,

__________________________________

Cynthia Nava, Chairman

Adopted_______________________ Not Adopted_______________________

(Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk)

Date ________________________

The roll call vote was 8 For 0 Against

Yes: 8

No: None

Excused: Boitano, Rodriguez

Absent: None

S0013ED1