AN ACT

RELATING TO VETERANS; AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS FOR CERTAIN WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

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:

"HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS--WORLD WAR II VETERANS.--

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Public School Code, a local school board may issue a high school diploma to a World War II veteran who:

(1) is an honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States;

(2) was scheduled to graduate from high school after 1940 and before 1951;

(3) was a resident of New Mexico and attended a high school in the locality of the current school district; and

(4) left high school before graduation to serve in World War II.

B. A local school board may issue a high school diploma to a qualifying World War II veteran regardless of whether the veteran holds a high school equivalency diploma or is deceased.

C. The state board shall adopt and promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this section, including:

(1) an application form to be submitted by the World War II veteran or a person acting on behalf of the veteran if the veteran is incapacitated or deceased; and

(2) what constitutes acceptable evidence of eligibility for a diploma."

HB 125

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