HOUSE BILL 197

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Sandra D. Jeff and Benny Shendo, Jr.

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL SAFETY; REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY PARENTS OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL; CREATING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND; ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR AWARDING FUNDS FOR SCHOOL SECURITY GRANTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] PARENTS IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM.--By the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, school districts and charter schools shall establish and implement a system that allows ready visual identification of parents of children enrolled in the school district or charter school."

     SECTION 2. A new section of the Public School Finance Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] PUBLIC SCHOOL SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE FUND--ADMINISTRATION.--

          A. The "public school security infrastructure fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations, bequests and income from investment of the fund. The fund shall be administered by the department. Money in the fund is appropriated to the department to be expended pursuant to this section as awards for school security grants. The department may expend no more than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) in a fiscal year from the fund to administer the fund and implement the provisions of this section.

          B. The secretary shall:

                (1) request that school security grant proposals be submitted to the department no later than June 30 of each year for construction or installation of security improvements to prevent intruders from entering schools or student transport vehicles and endangering students, teachers or other school personnel. Improvements include projects to remodel, renovate or otherwise add to existing public school structures or to reinforce or secure vehicles owned by a school district used to transport students;

                (2) establish criteria for the form and content of school security grant proposals; and

                (3) identify the schools and school districts to which school security grants will be awarded and disburse money from the public school security infrastructure fund for school security grants no later than December 1 of each year.

          C. Grants from the public school security infrastructure fund shall be made by the secretary based on completeness of proposals, priority of the need for the project and soundness of the proposed project. Money from the fund shall not be granted to operate programs or for routine maintenance of existing facilities.

          D. Expenditures from the fund shall be made by warrant issued by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education."

      SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--One million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the public school security infrastructure fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2013 and subsequent fiscal years for the purposes of that fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 4. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.