AN ACT

RELATING TO BOARDS OF REGENTS; REQUIRING MEMBERS TO BE TRAINED.



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

Section 1. Section 21-1-26 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1951, Chapter 190, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

"21-1-26. COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION CREATED--POWERS.--

A. There is created a "commission on higher education" whose function is to deal with the problems of finance of those educational institutions designated in Article 12, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico. The commission shall:

(1) be concerned with the adequate financing of these institutions and with the equitable distribution of available funds among them;

(2) be authorized to receive funding for the in-plant development training program and to administer the funds in accordance with the provisions of Section 21-19-7 NMSA 1978;

(3) receive, adjust and approve the budgets submitted by these institutions prior to the submission of these budgets to the state budget division of the department of finance and administration;

(4) develop and maintain programs, on a regular basis, for the mandatory orientation and in-service education of members of the boards of regents of the state educational institutions designated in Article 12, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico; and

(5) exercise such other powers as may be granted it by law.

B. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the commission on higher education, which is a commission broadly representative of the public and of institutions of higher education, may be designated by the governor to administer funds furnished under acts of congress for those educational institutions enumerated in Article 12, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico and for any other educational institutions over which the commission has been granted approval authority or supervisory powers or both.

C. The commission on higher education is also charged with oversight of all private post-secondary educational institutions operating within the state."

Section 2. A new section of Chapter 21, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"BOARDS OF REGENTS--MANDATORY TRAINING OF MEMBERS.--Members of each board of regents of a state educational institution enumerated in Article 12, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico shall attend mandatory orientation and in-service education programs."



HB 137

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