Roadrunner Capitol Reports
Legislation Detail

HB 135 INDIAN EDUCATION FUND DISTRIBUTIONS

Rep Derrick Lente

Actions: [2] HEC/HAFC-HEC [4] DP-HAFC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

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Summary:
 House Bill 135 (HB 135) amends Public Schools to change distributions from the Indian Education Fund.
  
Legislation Overview:
 House Bill 135 (HB 135) amends Public Schools to change distributions from the Indian Education Fund as follows:
 
SECTION 1 amends Public Schools 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) Indian Education Fund (Fund) to add Subsection C and insert additional text in Subsection D. 

C. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2025, distributions made from the 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.

D. Is amended to specify that the department shall develop procedures and rules for the award of money from the fund for school districts, charter schools and other entities. 
Additional text provides that :
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. 

SECTION 2 makes the effective dates July 1, 2024. 
Relates To:
 House Bill 135 is amended to reflect the content of House Bill 134, which creates the Tribal Education Trust Fund and the Tribal Education Trust Fund Disbursement Formula Task Force.