SB 107
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AN ACT
RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; EXPANDING THE EDUCATION WORKS
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 27-2D-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003,
Chapter 317, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:
"27-2D-4. EDUCATION WORKS PROGRAM--ELIGIBILITY--
RESTRICTIONS--REQUIREMENTS.--
A. A person is eligible to receive education works
services or cash assistance if the person demonstrates that:
(1) the person has been accepted or has been
determined to be eligible to enroll in a two- or four-year
post-secondary or graduate or post-graduate degree program;
and
(2) the degree the person will receive will
increase the person's ability to engage in full-time paid
employment.
B. A recipient shall not receive cash assistance
funded by the temporary assistance for needy families block
grant during the period in which the recipient is receiving
cash assistance pursuant to the Education Works Act.
C. A recipient shall apply for all financial aid
available from the post-secondary, graduate or post-graduate
educational institution that the recipient attends.
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D. During the twenty-four months of participation
in the education works program, a recipient shall engage in
at least twenty hours per week of class time, studying, work,
work-study or volunteering. The department shall assume that
a recipient spends one and one-half hours studying for every
hour of class time.
E. A recipient may participate in the education
works program for no more than twenty-four months, except
that a recipient may participate in the education works
program for one additional academic term following the
twenty-four-month participation limit, or for two additional
academic terms following the twenty-four-month participation
limit at the discretion of the director, if doing so will
result in the recipient earning a degree.
F. The number of recipients enrolled in the
education works program is limited to the number of
recipients who can be served by the funds available.
G. For purposes of this section, "work" means
work-study, training-related practicums, internships, paid
employment, volunteering or any other activity approved by the
department."