[LWVNM Action] The final 5 days for the Governor to sign legislator

[Jane Asche]

Richard, did the Governor sign HJR 1 - the Permanent Fund increase that 
covers Early Childhood Education?  Jane Asche

On 4/5/2021 5:46 PM, Richard Mason via Action wrote:
>
> *Lujan Grisham signs education package*
>
> *By Dan McKay / Journal Staff Writer 
> <https://www.abqjournal.com/author/dmckay>*
>
> *Monday, April 5th, 2021 at 4:27pm*
>
> SANTE FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham began a critical week Monday 
> by signing legislation designed to deliver extra funding to schools 
> serving large Native American communities and some of New Mexico’s 
> poorest families — part of a burst of action as she faces a Friday 
> deadline to act on more than 130 bills.
>
> Also approved Monday were measures establishing an independent office 
> to review special education in New Mexico and banning discrimination 
> based on a student’s cultural hairstyle.
>
> It was the start of what will be a busy week.
>
> Awaiting action by Friday are proposals that would require private 
> employers to offer paid sick leave, establish a Civil Rights Act, 
> authorize medical aid-in-dying and ban animal traps on public land.
>
> The approval of a package of education bills Monday comes as New 
> Mexico confronts the loss of in-person classroom time during the 
> COVID-19 pandemic, on top of already-poor academic outcomes.
>
> One measure signed Monday, House Bill 6, is expected to send an extra 
> $60 million in federal Impact Aid to districts with vast amounts of 
> tribal and other tax-exempt land. The state had previously deducted 
> much of the federal money from the districts’ funding allocation, 
> blocking the funds from reaching their intended target.
>
> Lujan Grisham said the legislation ends “a longstanding practice 
> that was fundamentally unfair, disadvantaging too many Native American 
> students and communities.”
>
> Another measure, Senate Bill 17, is expected to distribute $30 million 
> over the next two years to schools serving a concentration of 
> low-income families. The funding is for math, reading and other 
> programs to support students.
>
> “The need is great, and resources are limited,” Public Education 
> Secretary Ryan Stewart said in a written statement. “That’s why 
> it’s critical to target extra funding to the schools where it is 
> most needed.”
>
> A $7.4 billion budget plan is awaiting action this week — an 
> appropriations bill for which Lujan Grisham has line-item veto authority.
>
> *Also on deck are bills to extend public campaign financing to 
> District Court judicial candidates, expand tax breaks for working 
> families and create a citizens’ redistricting committee.*
>
> Any bill the governor doesn’t sign or veto by Friday is 
> automatically rejected, a procedure known as a pocket veto. The 
> deadline applies only to bills passed in the final days of the regular 
> 60-day session, which ended March 20.
>
> A proposal to legalize retail sales of marijuana, by contrast, has 
> extra time. It was passed in last week’s special session, so the 
> governor has until April 20 to act.
>
> As for the regular session, Lujan Grisham has so far signed 23 bills 
> and vetoed one — out of 158 bills passed in the 60-day session.
>
> Among the bills signed Monday are:
>
> — Senate Bill 140, updating New Mexico’s child support laws to 
> avoid the loss of $148 million in federal funding.
>
> — House Bill 222, establishing an ombud’s office to investigate 
> and resolve problems with special education. It would operate within 
> the state Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, independent of 
> the Public Education Department.
>
> — House Bill 29 and Senate Bill 80, prohibiting discrimination in 
> schools based on a student’s cultural headdress or certain 
> hairstyles, such as braids, cornrows or weaves.
>
> — House Bill 6, sending an extra $60 million to school districts 
> that have a small tax base because they cover tax-exempt land for 
> Native American communities and military bases. The measure changes 
> New Mexico’s education funding formula to allow the districts to 
> keep federal Impact Aid intended to help them pay for education.
>
> It’s expected to make a particular difference in McKinley and San 
> Juan counties in northwestern New Mexico.
>
> — Senate Bill 17, distributing extra funding to certain schools 
> based on a family income index. The state budget proposal would 
> authorize $15 million a year for the effort over the next two years.
>
> Â
>
>
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-- 
Jane A. Asche, Ed.D., Email: janeasche at comcast.net, Cell: 575-649-8154
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