posted Feb 21, 2012, 9:01 AM by LaWanda Albright
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updated Feb 21, 2012, 9:01 AM
]
New Mexico Child Care and Education Association
Final Report of 2012 Legislative Session
By Linda Siegle
Overall Session Review: The 2012 Legislative Session began on January 17th and ended at
noon of February 16th. Though a 30 day session is by law solely for the purpose of developing a
state budget almost 1000 bills, memorials and constitutional amendments were introduced.
Many bills were introduced because the governor had given them a “message” allowing for
discussion during a 30 day session. Other bills were determined “germane” because their
content was similar to one of the governor’s messages. All in all it was an extremely busy
session though the results are limited to the budget and approximately 77 bills passing both
chambers.
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posted Feb 16, 2012, 9:02 AM by LaWanda Albright
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updated Feb 16, 2012, 9:02 AM
]
The Constitutional Amendment to allow a portion of funds from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to be used for Early Childhood Education has failed to garner enough support to pass in this legislative session, which ends Thursday at noon. Amendment supporters came even closer than a year ago to getting legislative approval. Thanks to all of you who have emailed or called legislators or who have attended rallies. The message about the importance of funding Early Childhood Education is gaining advocates among legislators all the time. Please make calls and send e-mails to thank legislators -- both senators and representatives -- who supported this constitutional amendment. Contact information for these legislators is at the end of this message. On Tuesday evening, 2/14, the Senate Finance Committee voted 6 to 5 to table Senate Joint Resolution 9, the Amendment for Early Childhood Funding. Voting against the bill (in favor of tabling) were two Democrats, Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming and Sen. Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces and four Republicans, Sue Wilson Beffort of Sandia Park, Rod Adair of Roswell, Carroll Leavell of Jal and Steven Neville of Aztec. Voting in favor of the bill (against tabling) were Pete Campos of Las Vegas, Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque, Nancy Rodriguez of Santa Fe, Carlos Cisneros of Questa and Howie Morales of Silver City. Contact information is below. The previous day, an almost identical bill in the House was blocked in committee – also by just one vote. After an hour and a half of discussion, the House Education Committee (HEC) voted to table HJR 15 by a 6 to 5 vote. Voting to keep the Early Learning Amendment, HJR 15, on its way to the House Floor were four of the Democrats (Rep. Rick Miera of Albuquerque, Rep. Mary Helen Garcia of Las Cruces, Rep. Sheryl Williams-Stapleton of Albuquerque, and Rep. George Dodge of Santa Rosa) and Independent Rep. Andy Nuñez of Hatch. Contact information is below. Voting to table HJR 15 were the five Republicans (Rep. Dennis Roch of Texico, Rep. Alonzo Baldonado of Los Lunas, Rep. Jimmie Hall of Albuquerque, Rep. Dianne Hamilton of Silver City, and Rep. Nora Espinoza of Roswell) along with Democrat Rep. Rhonda King of Stanley. During the discussion, Rep. King reminded the committee that she believes in the worthiness of early childhood programs, that she has been a strong advocate for funding for early childhood programs, and that she was part of the Legislative Finance Committee’s plan to increase funding for these programs in FY 2013 by about $30 million. She was also concerned about the solvency of the permanent funds, asking many questions about this during the hearing, leading to her vote to table the amendment. As HEC began to hear the bill, Miera, Committee Chair and primary sponsor of the HJR, clarified several amendments to HJR 15. One recently added amendment was a change in the distribution, from 7% to 6.6% of the Permanent Fund, with early childhood services getting 1.1% instead of 1.5%. This would bring the annual amount for early learning (after phase in) to about $80 million -- instead of the projected $125 million annual income with a 1.5 % distribution. Miera also clarified another significant issue, the amendment made in the House Judiciary Committee, that HJR 15 now no longer references private entities. Miera clarified that all monies from this constitutional amendment would be under control of the state. Just as the money now flows to the CYFD and then to privately run programs as in NM PreK, CYFD would be in total control of the money for ECE through contracts with private entities, such as child care and education centers. Joan Baker, an educator and a parent from Edgewood, urged legislators to protect and invest in the children of NM. Others testifying in favor of the bill were Allen Sanchez, NM Conference of Catholic Bishops, St. Joseph Community Health;
Bill Jordan, NM Voices for Children; Lilly Ortiz, NM School Board Association; Sonny Weahkee, Native American Voters Alliance; Karen Longendecker, Albuquerque Interfaith; Adrian Pedroza, Albuquerque Community Partnership; Matthew Henderson, Ole Parent Association; Ed Olguin, National Education Association (NEA); Dave Schmidt, American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Lydia Pendley, RESULTS Santa Fe; Erika Windish, Early Educators United; Gloria Rendon, NM School Administrators Association and NM Superintendents Association; and Baji Rankin, NMAEYC. Speaking against the bill were three people: Larry Langley from the NM Business Round Table; Lillian Montoya Rael, from the NM Early Childhood Development Partnership; and Paul Aguilar from the NM Public Education Department (PED)
Linda Siegle representing the NM Child Care and Education Association said that “we really would support this legislation if we thought funds would go to private providers.” She urged the committee to put “private providers” back into the language of the legislation. Committee members questioned Attorney General Gary King, who clarified that NM would have to change the congressional Enabling Act of 1910 to spend money from the trust funds on non-public schools. It requires a bill in Congress and King added, “It certainly can be done.” Miguel Gomez of St. Joseph’s Community Health, testifying on behalf of HJR 15, said that changing the Enabling Act is not that big a deal and that NM has done it before. “We feel confident that this will be relatively simple,” Miguel stated. Representative Stapleton asked a series of questions to PED’s Paul Aguilar regarding the implications of the decreased funding for K-12 education in PED –– from 5.8% to 5.5% of the Permanent Fund –– if the amendment failed. “Do you have in mind how you could replace those funds?” Aguilar mentioned general economic growth and that over time the General Fund could absorb the difference. Questions continued on the solvency of the fund, the performance of the funds over time, and funding private schools. Representative Espinoza moved to table HJR, which passed on a 6 to 5 vote. Please make calls and send e-mails to thank legislators -- both senators and representatives -- who supported this constitutional amendment: “Thank you for supporting the Amendment for Early Childhood Funding and standing up for our children’s future.”
THANKS.
Baji Rankin |
posted Feb 14, 2012, 3:15 PM by LaWanda Albright
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updated Feb 14, 2012, 3:15 PM
]
The Senate Finance Committee added $150,000 to the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® scholarship budget for FY 2013, and that increase was approved by the Senate as part of the entire state budget late Monday. The changes the Senate made still must be approved by the House before going to Gov. Susana Martinez for her consideration. Most of the other early childhood program funding levels remained the same in the Senate budget as they had been in the budget approved by the House.
The $150,000 likely would make it possible for T.E.A.C.H. to provide scholarships to the 35 people currently on a waiting list with the program, plus offer 45 or so additional scholarships. The scholarships would be available to family child care home professionals, and teachers, directors or assistant teachers in early childhood centers licensed by the Children Youth and Families Department throughout the state.
Budget amendments to add money for T.E.A.C.H. were sponsored by Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, Sen. Linda Lopez and Sen. John Sapien. Please thank them for their efforts! Also, thank the Senate Finance Committee members. See the Finance members, and click on their names for contact information at www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/committeedisplay.aspx?CommitteeCode=SFC
Early childhood program funding in the Senate budget includes:
--Child care assistance, $87,120,800 (a $3 million increase over the current year). The increase would serve 800 children. About 5,000 are on the waiting list for child care assistance.
--Home visiting, $3,176,800 (a $900,000 increase over the current year). About 5 new home visiting sites would be added.
--CYFD PreK, $9,235,900 (a $1,014,200 increase over the current year).
--PED PreK, $10 million (a $3.7 million increase over the current year).
--Training and Technical Assistance Programs (TTAPS), $3,198.400 (the same as the TTAPS started out with this year, though the TTAPS budget was reduced during the course of the year).
--T.E.A.C.H. scholarships, $381,900 (a $150,000 increase over the current year). T.E.A.C.H. usually receives money from NM PreK for scholarships to educators in that program as well.
--Kindergarten Through Third Grade Plus, $11 million (a $5.7 million increase over the current year).
--Early Reading Initiative (a new program proposed by Gov. Susana Martinez), $8.5 million.
In the budget for CYFD PreK and for PED PreK, it is stipulated that 90% of the funding must be used for direct services -- the classroom teachers and assistants, and direct costs of the program. Only 10% of the money can be used for administration, T.E.A.C.H. scholarships, and program support, such as the computer database for NM PreK, training for teachers in the PreK child assessment tool and PreK classroom consultants.
Attempts to increase the amount of money for TTAPS and to further increase funding for child care assistance failed in the Senate Finance Committee.
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posted Feb 13, 2012, 8:24 AM by LaWanda Albright
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updated Feb 13, 2012, 8:25 AM
]
Today, Saturday, the Senate Finance committee is working on the budget bill (HB2)
which passed out of the House on Wednesday. The Senate Finance Committee will
meet publicly on Sunday or Monday to approve the amendments. The word is that
there will be no tax cuts in the budget but instead attempts to re-fund programs that
have been cut. $89 million to education; $38 million Medicaid;$49.7 million for 1.75%
retirement swap; $40 million higher education; $2.5 million Department of Health; $5
million early childhood education ($3 million child care subsidy); and other areas.
I (Linda Siegel) ask for an additional $2 million for child care subsidy in a Senate amendment.
As I indicated in a prior email, it appears that the Joint Resolutions are DEAD. We have
commitment that the Roundtable and the United Way organization will bring providers
together to discuss a real plan for the future. Full report attached.
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posted Feb 9, 2012, 8:24 PM by LaWanda Albright
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updated Feb 9, 2012, 8:24 PM
]
You Can Help
With Early Childhood Legislation!
Many important pieces of legislation for Early Childhood Education remain to be acted upon in the final days of the session, and you can still affect what happens.
The measures include:
- House Bill 52 (sponsored by Rep. Jim Trujillo) – Deduction for certain day care services. The bill would end gross receipts taxes on state child care subsidy payments made to taxpaying early childhood care and education programs. Thus the programs would get more money to serve children.
The bill is in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. Please talk with members of that committee.
- Senate Joint Resolution 9 (sponsored by Sen. Michael Sanchez) - A bill to place a Constitutional Amendment before voters in November 2012 to allow a portion of Land Grant Permanent Fund to be used for Early Childhood Education by both public school and private programs that contract with the state. This resolution clearly states the funds will be used “for early childhood programs operated by the public schools or pursuant to contracts between the state and private entities for the benefit of non-school-age children.” If approved by voters, the Constitutional Amendment will result in $125 million more yearly for early childhood after its initial phase-in is complete. (The resolution also would prevent slated cuts in funding to K-12 education from the Permanent Fund.)
The Senate bill is in the Senate Finance Committee. Please talk with members of that committee and other senators, since the measure will require a full vote of the Senate.
- House Joint Resolution 15 (sponsored by Rep. Rick Miera) - This bill started as identical to Senate Joint Resolution 9 but was AMENDED in the House Judiciary Committee to take out the reference to private early childhood programs. The resolution states that the funds from the Constitutional Amendment will be used “for early childhood education programs operated by the STATE for the benefit of non-school-age children.” This has caused concern for many private providers of early childhood care and education because there is no guarantee they would be eligible for funds.
The bill is in the House Education Committee. Please talk with members of that committee about the importance of private early care and education providers being included, and talk to other House members as well because the measure will require a full vote of the House.
- House Bill 2 (the state appropriations for Fiscal Year 2013) –
Increases to Early Childhood Education as of 2/9/12 include:
• $3 million additional for child care assistance (for a total of $81.2 million).
CYFD recently reported there were about 5,942 children on the waiting list. The additional $3 million would be enough to provide services to approximately 800 children.
• $900,000 additional for home visiting (for a total of $3.18 million). The Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) reports that this added money could support five new home visiting sites.
• $1 million for CYFD PreK (for a total of $9.235 million).
• $3.7 million for PED PreK (for a total of $10 million).
• The state budget shows NO increase now for T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® scholarships or Training and Technical Assistance Programs (TTAPS). Amendments are being introduced in the Senate seeking more money for each program.
Increases for Kindergarten-4th grade include:
• $5.7 million for Kindergarten Through Third Grade Plus (for a total of $11 million),
• $8.5 million for a new early reading initiative calling for intervention and coaches in the early grades of elementary school.
The state budget (HB 2) is currently in the Senate Finance Committee. Please talk with members of that committee.
- Senate Bill 98 (sponsored by Sen. Howie Morales) – Bill would appropriate $2.1 million to the Department of Health to fund the Family, Infant, Toddler Program (FIT) which provides early intervention services to help make up for projected shortfalls. (A similar bill – SB 133, sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Nava – calling for $3 million for FIT services is also under consideration.)
SB 98 is currently in the Senate Finance Committee, for consideration with other budget measures. Please talk with members of that committee.
- Senate Bill 125 – (sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Nava) – calls for appropriating $4 million to the Public Education Department for before- and after-school programs.
The bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee where it is being considered along with other measures that affect the state budget.
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posted Feb 7, 2012, 5:46 PM by LaWanda Albright
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updated Feb 7, 2012, 5:46 PM
]
The House Judiciary Committee heard and passed the constitutional amendment by a vote of 8 - 7.
The hearing was over 4 hours long and there was a lot of discussion about Early Education in New Mexico.
The only changes fixed a small constitutionally issue and was amended to say that funding would go to all early education programs overseen by the state.
What does this mean for you?
Since you already contract with the state it allows the state to use this money to continue to fund current recipients like your center.
What’s next?
HJR15 will next go to the house floor for a vote in the next few days and the senate version SJR 9 is now in the Senate Finance Committee for a hearing, this same committee where the Constitutional Amendment was denied a hearing last year. |
posted Feb 7, 2012, 8:14 AM by LaWanda Albright
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updated Feb 7, 2012, 8:14 AM
]
New Mexico Child Care and Education Association
Week Ending 2.5.2012
By Linda Siegle
Only 11 days left of the 2012 Legislative Session. HB2 (the state budget bill) has been
held up in House Appropriations in an attempt to negotiate tax cuts and governor
priorities. I don’t know yet how much is left of the proposed $3 million for expansion of
child care subsidy. We will have amendments for Senate Finance to expand that
amount, but I doubt there will be any expansion.
Tracking bills in Red
I have removed the many bills that have yet to have a hearing because they are not
germane.
THE Attorney General says that NM cannot take money out of the land grant permanent
fund without a federal law change. Full report attached
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posted Feb 5, 2012, 8:54 PM by LaWanda Albright
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updated Feb 5, 2012, 8:54 PM
]
The NM Senate Judiciary Committee on Saturday endorsed a Constitutional Amendment to provide money from the state Land Grant Permanent Fund to early childhood education by a vote of 6 to 3. All the supporters were Democrats; the opponents Republicans. The bill, Senate Joint Resolution 9 (SJR 9), had previously been endorsed by the Senate Rules Committee and now goes to the Senate Finance Committee, where the measure stalled a year ago.
An identical bill (HJR 15) is working its way through the House of Representatives, whose Voters and Elections Committee has recommended passage. The House Judiciary Committee will hear the bill Monday about 1:30 p.m. (or a half-hour after the House floor session ends) in Room 309. If the bill is approved by the House committee, it will go to the House floor for a vote by the whole chamber.
If the measure is approved by the Legislature, the issue will be placed on the November ballot for voters to decide. (The measure does not require the governor's approval.) "We would love to see this go to the voters," Bill Jordan of NM Voices for Children told the committee, "to educate all of us that learning begins at birth and so should our investment in education."
A dozen or so people spoke in support of the bill from the audience. Anna Otero-Hatanaka, representing the Association of Developmental Disabilities Community Providers, said money from the Permanent Found for early childhood could greatly benefit the Family-Infant-Toddler (FIT) program and help make up for services that have been cut in recent years. Allen Sanchez of St. Joseph Community Health, which has taken the proceeds from sale of its hospital in Albuquerque and is using them to support early childhood efforts, said putting money into early childhood is "the best investment you can make." St. Joseph is the largest home visiting program in the state.
The amendment would increase the percentage of the Permanent Fund that is distributed to beneficiaries from the current 5.8 percent to 7 percent for the next 10 years. The money for early childhood would be phased in, with $50 million allocated in FY 2014, $100 million in FY 2015 and $150 million each for Fiscal Years 2016 through 2023. The $10 billion fund -- which provides money primarily for K-12 public schools -- would not be depleted by the additional money being taken out, sponsors say. The reason is that the fund has an income and investment growth of an average of 12.5 percent a year over the past 22 years -- despite economic downturns. Thus, the Permanent Fund would continue to grow.
Attorney General Gary King told the committee that he is in favor of the Constitutional Amendment and how money generated would be spent. He was asked by Sen. William Payne if the congressional Enabling Act of 1910 setting up the fund prohibited proceeds from being distributed to entities other than public schools. "If you want to spend this money through outlets other than public schools, it would require a change in the Enabling Act (passed by Congress in 1910)," King said. The bill's sponsors plan to have money distributed not only to public school early childhood programs but to Children Youth and Families Department NM PreK in community programs and to child care assistance in private programs, home visiting programs operated privately, and child care quality improvement programs operated privately.
An attorney hired by St. Joseph Community Health to look at constitutional issues, David Buchholtz, told the committee he thought it is a "close question" whether congressional action would be required. In any event, he said, such action isn't needed until AFTER the vote by the general electorate. Also, he said the Enabling Act has been amended twice in recent years at New Mexico's request and that it was not a difficult task. If NM's voters approved the amendment, Congress will take that into account as well.
A couple of people spoke against the amendment, including James O'Neill of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, who said the chamber supported taking additional money from the Permanent Fund in 2003 to improve K-12 education and that the chamber believed better education is crucial to NM's future. However, he said the new funds proposed to be distributed from the Permanent Fund may just replace general fund money that now goes for early childhood education. There is nothing to ensure that the money will actually ADD to what is spent on early childhood, he indicated.
Allen Sanchez replied that such a small percentage of state funds currently goes to early childhood education, that there is very little general fund money to supplant with the Permanent Fund money.
Sen. Cisco McSorley asked O'Neill if that would make a difference to the Chamber if it knew that the Permanent Fund money definitely would increase what was spent on early childhood.
"I can ask," O'Neill said.
Tom Rutherford, representing the NM School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, said the school is concerned because it is one of the beneficiaries of the Permanent Fund and that 10 or 20 years down the road the Permanent Fund will be much smaller than it would have been without the early childhood money being taken out. Thus, there will be less money in the future for beneficiaries such as the NM School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. (It was pointed out that the school will get additional money for the next 10 years with the increase in percentage of distribution to 7 percent, as will all the beneficiaries. Kelly O'Donnell, an economist working with Voices, explained that it is like a pie, with every beneficiary getting a fixed percentage; with a bigger pie, each beneficiary gets more.)
William Payne, who voted against the amendment, said early childhood was certainly a worthy cause. However, he questioned spending the money now and having losses later by having a Permanent Fund that would not grow as fast, and thus would provide smaller returns in the future for public education and other beneficiaries.
"It's eating the seed corn. We have money that is supposed to be growing to support the general fund," he said. By having greater distributions, the Permanent Fund will be worth $5,5 billion less in 10 years that would have been the case otherwise. The Permanent Fund is expected to double in size even without the $5.5 billion, however, supporters noted. O'Donnell said it is "reasonable to expect that the Fund will continue to grow in real value" (even taking inflation into account).
In explaining his vote, Payne also said that going to the Permanent Fund was a way around "fighting it out" with other priorities for the money the state has available now.
McSorley asked whether the public was likely to support the amendment, even if the Legislature did approve putting measure on the ballot.
Miguel Gomez with St. Joseph Community Health said polls taken by Research and Polling Inc. show that 71 percent of people would vote in favor of the amendment.
McSorley noted that other states have spent down their Permanent Funds in order to invest in education thinking that such investment will generate more money.
Gomez said that Nobel laureate economist James Heckman has done research showing that investments in early childhood education have a return of 10 percent per year per child for the life of the child. "I think that these are the best investments you can make," Gomez said.
Catherine Kinney, who worked with St. Joseph Community Health on the amendment, noted the vital importance of early childhood education. She noted that third-grade reading levels are predicted by children's vocabularies at age 3. The amendment gives New Mexico a chance to invest in areas in which the state currently has not money to invest.
The Senate Judiciary votes in favor of the amendment were cast by Linda Lopez, Michael Sanchez (the bill's sponsor), Eric Griego, Lisa Curtis, Cisco McSorley and Peter Wirth. The votes against were cast by William Payne, Sander Rue and John Ryan. Clinton Harden and Richard Martinez were absent.
If you want to contact a member of the House Judiciary Committee about the constitutional amendment, here is the link to members of the House committee that will hear the bill Monday and their contact information:
Looking ahead, if you want to contact members of the Senate Finance Committee about the amendment, here is the link to members and their contact information:
Dan Ritchey Early Childhood Educator (505) 243-5437 |
posted Jan 30, 2012, 11:22 AM by LaWanda Albright
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updated Jan 30, 2012, 11:22 AM
]
New Mexico Child Care and Education Association
Week Ending 1.28.12
On Friday afternoon the House Appropriation Committee did preliminary approval of the
House version of HB2. Some good news in that they approved $3 million in expansion
of state subsidy for child care HOWEVER $1.6 million is contingent upon certain money
being available. It is a game that is played between the House and Senate so we will
need to work the bill when it gets to the Senate Finance Committee probably by
Wednesday. $3 million will enable 800 more children to take advantage of the program.
HB82 - Family, Infant, Toddler Program
Rep. Danice Picraux (D)
Appropriates $2.1 million (GF) to the Department of Health to fund the Family, Infant, Toddler
Program for early intervention services and to fund the projected shortfall in the state's federal match
for Medicaid services.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-18
Appropriates $2.1 million (GF) to the Department of Health to fund the Family, Infant, Toddler
Program for early intervention services and to fund the projected shortfall in the state’s federal
match for Medicaid services.
2012-01-18
01/27/2012 - H - Reported Do Pass by House Consumer and Public Affairs [Listen]
HB 52
Rep. Jim R. Trujillo (D)
Receipts of a child daycare provider from fees paid by the state may be deducted if the services
are for families qualified to receive assistance from the state. The stated purpose is to equalize
service charges by private providers with those of not-for-profit providers.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-23
Receipts of a child daycare provider from fees paid by the state may be deducted if the services
are for families qualified to receive assistance from the state. The stated purpose is to equalize
service charges by private providers with those of not-for-profit providers.
2012-01-12
01/24/2012 - H - Reported without recommendation by House Health and Government Affairs
[Listen]
01/12/2012 - H - Pre-filed in the House
01/18/2012 - H - Introduced and referred to House Health and Government Affairs [Listen]
01/18/2012 - H - Also referred to House Taxation and Revenue
01/24/2012 - H - Reported without recommendation by House Health and Government Affairs
[Listen]
All Hearings 01/18/2012 - H - Introduced and referred to House Consumer and Public Affairs [Listen]
01/18/2012 - H - Also referred to House Appropriations and Finance
01/27/2012 - H - Reported Do Pass by House Consumer and Public Affairs [Listen]
01/26/12 - House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, 1:30 pm, Room 315
HB198 - Child Care Resource and Referral ServiceHB
Rep. Eleanor Chavez (D)
Appropriates $150,000 (GF) to expand the child care resource and reference database.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-25
Appropriates $150,000 (GF) to expand the child care resource and reference database.
The expansion is for the purpose of tracking and reporting requirements for educators and
administrators employed by state or federally funded childcare assistance programs. The information
will be posted on the Child Care Resource and Referral website.
2012-01-25
01/25/2012 - H - Introduced and referred to House Labor and Human Resources [Listen]
01/25/2012 - H - Introduced and referred to House Labor and Human Resources [Listen]
01/25/2012 - H - Also referred to House Appropriations and Finance
02/02/12 - House Labor and Human Resources Committee, 1:30 pm, Room 305 HJR2 - CA: Distributions from Land Grant Permanent Funds
Proposes an amendment to Article 12 of the state Constitution to raise the annual distribution from
land grant permanent funds from 5 percent to 5.8 percent of the average of the total year-end market
values of the funds for the immediately preceding five calendar years. The additional 8/10 percent
shall be expended to implement and maintain educational reforms as provided by law.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-23
Proposes an amendment to Article 12 of the state Constitution to raise the annual distribution from
land grant permanent funds from 5 percent to 5.8 percent of the average of the total year-end market
values of the funds for the immediately preceding five calendar years. The additional 8/10 percent
shall be expended to implement and maintain educational reforms as provided by law.
However, if the average for the immediately preceding five calendar years is less than $6 billion, the
annual distribution shall be five percent of that average.
2011-12-17
01/18/2012 - H - Introduced and referred to House Education [Listen]
12/16/2011 - H - Pre-filed in the House
01/18/2012 - H - Introduced and referred to House Education [Listen]
01/18/2012 - H - Also referred to House Taxation and Revenue
HJR20 - CA: Guaranteed Support for Schools and Pre-Kindergartens
(Identical to SJR12) Proposes to add a new section to Article 12 of the State Constitution which
would require the Legislature to appropriate annually for the support of public schools and pre-
kindergarten programs not less than 51 percent of all general fund appropriations for the operations of
state government in the subsequent fiscal year.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-24
(Identical to SJR12) Proposes to add a new section to Article 12 of the State Constitution which
would require the Legislature to appropriate annually for the support of public schools and pre-
kindergarten programs not less than 51 percent of all general fund appropriations for the operations of
state government in the subsequent fiscal year.
2012-01-24
01/24/2012 - H - Introduced and referred to House Education [Listen]
01/24/2012 - H - Introduced and referred to House Education [Listen]
01/24/2012 - H - Also referred to House Voters and Elections
SB32 - Temporary Unemployment Fund Tax Contributions – This will impact your payments for
unemployment – this bill tries to keep these to a minimum – VERY IMPORTANT BILL
Sen. John Arthur Smith (D)
Similar in nature to 2011's HB59.) Extends the temporary increased Unemployment Compensation
Fund employer contribution rate schedule enacted last year, and provides for a further increase, upon
approval of the governor.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-04
Similar in nature to 2011’s HB59.) Extends the temporary increased Unemployment Compensation
Fund employer contribution rate schedule enacted last year, and provides for a further increase, upon
approval of the governor.
New Mexico employers pay a percentage of their total annual payroll into the fund under one of seven
schedules that are based on two factors: their own experience of unemployment claims against them,
and the status of the fund balance. When either the fund balance drops or claims against an employer
increase, or both, the employer pays into the fund at a higher rate. The Legislature, as in this bill,
designates which of the seven employer contribution schedules will be in effect during a specified
period. Employer contribution rates can vary from as little as .03 percent of their payroll to as high as
5.4 percent.
Currently Schedule 2, specifying a contribution rate of .1 percent, is in effect. This bill continues that
rate and provides that the Work Force Solutions Department secretary, with the governor’s approval,
may increase the rate by implementing Schedule 3, which calls for a contribution rate of .6 percent.
Such a move would be conditioned on a determination that the fund is 30 percent or less of the total
amount of benefits paid in calendar year 2011.
01/26/2012 - S - Reported Do Pass by Senate Corporations and Transportation [Listen]
Complete 01/04/2012 - S - Pre-filed in the Senate
History 01/18/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/18/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Corporations and Transportation
01/18/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Finance
01/23/2012 - S - Reported germane by Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/26/2012 - S - Reported Do Pass by Senate Corporations and Transportation [Listen]
All 01/25/12 - Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee, 2:00 pm, Room 311
Hearings 01/30/12 - Senate Finance Committee, 1:30 pm, Room 322
SB98 - Family, Infant, Toddler Program
Sen. Howie C. Morales (D)
(Identical to HB82) Appropriates $2.1 million (GF) to the Department of Health to fund the Family,
Infant, Toddler Program for early intervention services and to fund the projected shortfall in the
state's federal match for Medicaid services.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-19
(Identical to HB82) Appropriates $2.1 million (GF) to the Department of Health to fund the Family,
Infant, Toddler Program for early intervention services and to fund the projected shortfall in the
state’s federal match for Medicaid services.
2012-01-19
01/27/2012 - S - Reported Do Pass by Senate Public Affairs
01/19/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/19/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Public Affairs
01/19/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Finance
01/25/2012 - S - Reported germane by Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/27/2012 - S - Reported Do Pass by Senate Public Affairs
01/26/12 - Senate Public Affairs Committee, 1:30 pm, Room 321 SB125 - Before- and After-School Programs
Appropriates $4 million (GF) to the Public Education Department to support public schools in
providing before- and after-school programs.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-19
Appropriates $4 million (GF) to the Public Education Department to support public schools in
providing before- and after-school programs.
2012-01-19
01/27/2012 - S - Reported Do Pass by Senate Education [Listen]
01/19/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/19/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Education
01/19/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Finance
01/25/2012 - S - Reported germane by Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/27/2012 - S - Reported Do Pass by Senate Education [Listen]
01/27/12 - Senate Education Committee, 8:30 am, Room 311 SB133 - Family, Infant and Toddler Services
Sen. Cynthia Nava (D)
Appropriates $3,000,000 (GF) to the Department of Health for family, infant, and toddler programs
including addition of staff; program operation cost increases and identification or enrollment of
eligible children.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-23
Appropriates $3,000,000 (GF) to the Department of Health for family, infant, and toddler programs
including addition of staff; program operation cost increases and identification or enrollment of
eligible children.
2012-01-23
01/27/2012 - S - Reported Do Pass by Senate Education [Listen]
01/23/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/23/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Education
01/23/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Finance
01/25/2012 - S - Reported germane by Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/27/2012 - S - Reported Do Pass by Senate Education [Listen]
01/27/12 - Senate Education Committee, 8:30 am, Room 311 SB187 - Eliminates CYFD Office of Child Development
By repealing Secs. 32A-16-1 through 32A-16-4, the bill eliminates the Office of Child Development
in the Children, Youth and Families Department as well as the seven-member Child Development
Board. CYFD retains its authority to monitor and evaluate pre-school programs. Accordingly, the
powers and duties of the board to collaborate with other state agencies on licensure issues are
removed.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-24
By repealing Secs. 32A-16-1 through 32A-16-4, the bill eliminates the Office of Child Development
in the Children, Youth and Families Department as well as the seven-member Child Development
Board. CYFD retains its authority to monitor and evaluate pre-school programs. Accordingly, the
powers and duties of the board to collaborate with other state agencies on licensure issues are
removed.
2012-01-24
01/27/2012 - S - Reported germane by Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/24/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/24/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Rules
01/24/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Education
01/27/2012 - S - Reported germane by Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
SB230 - Gross Receipts Tax Deduction: Child Daycare Services
Sen. John M. Sapien (D)
Provides a deduction from gross receipts tax to child daycare providers who deliver services to
families that qualify for state assistance in paying for childcare. The deduction is applicable from July
1, 2012 to July 1, 2020. The purpose of this bill is to encourage more child daycare businesses to
open and to reduce costs for private for-profit daycare providers.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-26
Provides a deduction from gross receipts tax to child daycare providers who deliver services to
families that qualify for state assistance in paying for childcare. The deduction is applicable from July
1, 2012 to July 1, 2020. The purpose of this bill is to encourage more child daycare businesses to
open and to reduce costs for private for-profit daycare providers.
2012-01-26
01/26/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/26/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Committee on Committees [Listen]
01/26/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Corporations and Transportation
01/26/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Finance
SJR9 - Constitutional Amendment: Early Childhood School Fund Distributions
Sen. Michael S. Sanchez (D)
Proposes an amendment to Article 12, Section 7 of the state Constitution to provide for an annual
distribution of five percent of the average year-end market value of the Permanent School Fund and
all other Land Grant Permanent Funds during the five preceding years, but only if the average fund
value is at least $8 billion (an increase from the current $5.8 billion). Proposes changes in other
provisions of the section regarding supplemental distributions from the permanent funds.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-23
Proposes an amendment to Article 12, Section 7 of the state Constitution to provide for an annual
distribution of five percent of the average year-end market value of the Permanent School Fund and
all other Land Grant Permanent Funds during the five preceding years, but only if the average fund
value is at least $8 billion (an increase from the current $5.8 billion). Proposes changes in other
provisions of the section regarding supplemental distributions from the permanent funds.
Proposes that the 1.5 percent supplemental distribution made for implementation and maintenance of
educational reforms be continued indefinitely beyond its current FY 2016 expiration.
Proposes an additional 1.5 percent distribution for FY 2014 through FY2023, of which one-third will
be used for early childhood education in FY 2014, two-thirds in FY 2015, and all in FY 2016 through
2023. The money may be used by public schools or pursuant to contracts between the state and
private entities for the benefit of non-school-age children.
Proposes that for FY 2024 and thereafter a supplemental distribution of three-tenths of a percent of
permanent fund value be made for school purposes.
Distributions may be suspended by the Legislature if the average value of the permanent funds is less
than $8 billion.
2012-01-23
01/23/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Finance Complete 01/23/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Rules [Listen]
History 01/23/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Judiciary
01/23/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Finance
01/27/12 - Senate Rules Committee, 8:30 am, Room 321
SJR12 - CA: Guaranteed Support for Schools and Pre-Kindergartens – Same as others Joint Resolutions
Proposes to add a new section to Article 12 of the State Constitution which would require the
Legislature to appropriate annually for the support of public schools and pre-kindergarten programs
not less than 51 percent of all general fund appropriations for the operations of state government in
the subsequent fiscal year.
Analysis Type: Introduced, added 2012-01-24
Proposes to add a new section to Article 12 of the State Constitution which would require the
Legislature to appropriate annually for the support of public schools and pre-kindergarten programs
not less than 51 percent of all general fund appropriations for the operations of state government in
the subsequent fiscal year.
2012-01-24
01/24/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Rules [Listen]
01/24/2012 - S - Introduced and referred to Senate Rules [Listen]
01/24/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Judiciary
01/24/2012 - S - Also referred to Senate Finance
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posted Jan 30, 2012, 11:07 AM by LaWanda Albright
[
updated Jan 30, 2012, 11:08 AM
]
| House Tax and Revenue will be hearing HB 52 on Wednesday at 1:30 in Room 315 at the Roundhouse. |
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