46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT; REQUIRING THAT AGENCIES PROVIDE ONE YEAR FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES TO OBTAIN A GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT DIPLOMA AFTER EMPLOYMENT.

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

Section 1. EMPLOYMENT--QUALIFICATIONS--PUBLIC AGENCIES.--

A. All positions in a public agency that require as a minimum qualification that the person employed in that position have obtained a general education development diploma shall allow individuals to be employed in those positions who have not obtained a general education development diploma provided that the new employee obtains a general education development diploma within one year from his date of employment.

B. If the new employee has not obtained a general education development diploma at the end of the first six months of employment, he shall remain on probation until he presents evidence to his employer that he obtained a general education development diploma.

C. An employee who fails to obtain a general education development diploma by the first anniversary of employment, as required by this section, shall be removed from his position.

D. As used in this section:

(1) "general education development diploma" means a high school equivalency certificate, usually referred to as a "GED"; and

(2) "public agency" means an agency of the state or an agency of a subdivision of the state, including universities and community colleges that receive state funds and home rule municipalities.