HOUSE BILL 135

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

INTRODUCED BY

Derrick J. Lente and Anthony Allison and D. Wonda Johnson

 

 

FOR THE INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND

THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION; CHANGING THE DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE INDIAN EDUCATION FUND.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 22-23A-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 151, Section 8, as amended by Laws 2007, Chapter 295, Section 7 and by Laws 2007, Chapter 296, Section 7) is amended to read:

     "22-23A-8. FUND CREATED.--

          A. The "Indian education fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations and income from investment of the fund. Money in the fund shall not revert. The fund shall be administered by the department, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to distribute awards to support the Indian Education Act.

          B. The department shall ensure that funds appropriated from the Indian education fund shall be used for the purposes stated in the Indian Education Act and shall not be used to correct for previous reductions of program services.

          C. Beginning in fiscal year 2025, distributions made from the Indian education fund to New Mexico tribes shall be distributed automatically monthly, starting July 15, in a nonreimbursable manner, based on an equitable formula that takes into account tribal needs and tribal size and includes both a base amount and a student count element.

          [C.] D. The department shall develop procedures and rules for the award of money from the fund for school districts, charter schools and other entities. The department may request quarterly spending reports from the New Mexico tribes. The department may enter into agreements with the New Mexico tribes for the purposes of disbursing funds. New Mexico tribes may carry over unused portions of funds received; provided that those funds are used for the purposes of the Indian Education Act. Disbursement of the fund shall be made by warrant of the department of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of public education."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2024.