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HOUSE BILL 272
57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Cathrynn N. Brown and Rod Montoya
AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION; ENACTING THE TRADE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE
ACT; CREATING THE TRADE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE FUND; MAKING AN
APPROPRIATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be
cited as the "Trade Education Assistance Act".
SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the
Trade Education Assistance Act:
A. "department" means the higher education
department; and
B. "trade education program" means a program
approved by the department to train individuals to qualify for
licenses or certificates of competence issued pursuant to the
Construction Industries Licensing Act.
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SECTION 3. [NEW MATERIAL] STIPENDS--ELIGIBILITY--
AMOUNTS.--
A. An individual may be awarded a stipend pursuant
to the Trade Education Assistance Act if the individual:
(1) is a resident of New Mexico;
(2) has earned at least a high school diploma
or its equivalent at least two years prior to being awarded a
stipend but has not earned a baccalaureate degree;
(3) is participating in a trade education
program;
(4) claims at least one dependent on the
individual's federal or state income tax return and is not
claimed as a dependent on another individual's federal or state
income tax return; and
(5) has complied with other rules promulgated
by the department to carry out the provisions of the Trade
Education Assistance Act.
B. Stipends shall be awarded for periods no longer
than six months. Stipends may be renewed for not longer than a
total of two years.
C. A stipend may be terminated if a recipient fails
to satisfactorily participate in a trade education program
approved by the department.
D. Stipends may be used by recipients for living
expenses incurred while participating in a trade education
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program approved by the department.
E. Stipends shall not exceed thirty thousand
dollars ($30,000) per calendar year.
SECTION 4. [NEW MATERIAL] DEPARTMENT DUTIES--RULEMAKING
AUTHORITY--REPORTING.--
A. The department shall administer the Trade
Education Assistance Act and shall award stipends to
individuals the department certifies as participating in a
trade education program as approved by the department.
B. The department shall promulgate rules as
necessary to implement the Trade Education Assistance Act.
C. The department shall report by November 1 of
each year to the legislative finance committee and the
department of finance and administration on the:
(1) status of the trade education assistance
fund;
(2) number of individuals who received
stipends in the prior fiscal year and the amount of stipends
received; and
(3) types of trade education programs approved
by the department and the number of stipend recipients
participating in each type of program in the prior calendar
year.
SECTION 5. [NEW MATERIAL] TRADE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE
FUND.--The "trade education assistance fund" is created as a
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nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of
appropriations, gifts, grants, donations to the fund and income
from investment of the fund. The department shall administer
the fund, and money in the fund is appropriated to the
department to implement the provisions of the Trade Education
Assistance Act. Disbursements from the fund shall be made by
warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant
to vouchers signed by the secretary of higher education or the
secretary's authorized representative.
SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred million dollars
($100,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the
trade education assistance fund for expenditure in fiscal year
2026 and subsequent fiscal years for the purpose of
implementing the provisions of the Trade Education Assistance
Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the
end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.
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