Substitute for HB10 School District Solvency Passes NM House

From the NM House of Representatives: Today the House passed the House Education Committee (HEC) substitute for HB 10 by a vote of 69-0. The bill would give flexibility to state and school district solvency efforts, make temporary changes to the public school code, allow transportation cash balances to be used for other expenses, delay certain assessments and require public hearings.

“This bill follows the Governor’s Proclamation, which states that legislation will do ‘no harm to public education’,” sponsor of the bill Rep. Rick Miera (D-Bernalillo-11) said.

Under HEC Substitute for HB10 the Public Education Department shall establish a readiness assessment system to measure the readiness of every New Mexico high school student for success in higher education or a career.

The bill states that money in the transportation distribution of the public school fund be used only for the to-and-from school transportation costs of each school district and state-chartered school students. If a school’s transportation allocation exceeds the amount required, 50% of the remaining balance would be deposited in the transportation emergency fund. If the total proposed transportation allocations to each school district and charter school exceeds the amounts in the transportation distribution, the allocation will be reduced.

Under the current fiscal crisis, the bill allows school districts to suspend administration of certain required state assessments that are not required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 for this and the next school year.

The bill also mandates each local school board and governing bodies of a charter school to hold at least one public hearing to receive input from the community on cost-saving measures. The minutes of those meetings would be reported to the Legislative Education Study Committee.

HEC Substitute for HB10 now goes to the Senate for consideration. If signed, the bill would go into law immediately.

To see other posts about the special session, visit our archive.