NM
New Mexico House Bill HB560

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico House Bill HB560 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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2828 HOUSE BILL 560
2929 57
3030 TH LEGISLATURE
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4242 FIRST SESSION
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4545 2025
4646 INTRODUCED BY
4747 Jack Chatfield
4848 AN ACT
4949 RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; ENACTING THE WORKFORCE READINESS
5050 AND STUDENT ENGAGEMENT ACT; REQUIRING ESTABLISHMENT OF
5151 WORKFORCE READINESS PROGRAMS; REQUIRING EVALUATION AND REPORTS;
5252 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
5353 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
5454 SECTION 1. A new section of the Public School Code is
5555 enacted to read:
5656 "[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the
5757 "Workforce Readiness and Student Engagement Act"."
5858 SECTION 2. A new section of the Public School Code is
5959 enacted to read:
6060 "[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Workforce
6161 Readiness and Student Engagement Act:
6262 A. "apprenticeship" means a structured, work-based
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9090 learning program for a student that combines classroom
9191 instruction with hands-on training in a specific trade or
9292 profession;
9393 B. "certification" means industry-recognized
9494 credentials awarded to a student upon successful completion of
9595 a workforce preparation program;
9696 C. "dual credit" means college-level courses in
9797 which a high school student is enrolled and for which the
9898 student earns high school and college credits;
9999 D. "on-the-job training and mentorship" means a
100100 program that offers a student practical and direct work
101101 experience with ongoing guidance from a mentor or supervisor
102102 during the program;
103103 E. "student" means a public school student in pre-
104104 kindergarten through twelfth grade; and
105105 F. "workforce readiness" means that a student
106106 possesses a set of skills, a certification or experiences or a
107107 combination of those that has prepared the student for direct
108108 entry into the workforce."
109109 SECTION 3. A new section of the Public School Code is
110110 enacted to read:
111111 "[NEW MATERIAL] GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS--WORKFORCE
112112 READINESS PATHWAY--SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES.--
113113 A. A student may choose a workforce readiness
114114 pathway as part of the student's graduation requirements.
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143143 Workforce readiness pathway options include:
144144 (1) a certification program aligned with the
145145 state's workforce needs through which a student may earn a
146146 certification in a professional field with high workforce
147147 demand, including health care, technology, skilled trades and
148148 renewable energy;
149149 (2) enrollment in dual credit courses through
150150 an institution of higher education in the state;
151151 (3) an apprenticeship or employment with a
152152 local employer that has established a partnership with the
153153 student's school for the purposes described in this section;
154154 and
155155 (4) on-the-job training and mentorship that
156156 offers an opportunity for a high school student to learn
157157 directly from professionals in various professional fields.
158158 B. Every school that serves students in grades nine
159159 through twelve shall develop an apprenticeship program.
160160 C. Every school that will offer a workforce
161161 readiness program shall develop the program in collaboration
162162 with the workforce solutions department to ensure that the
163163 program aligns industries with high labor demands and local
164164 labor market needs."
165165 SECTION 4. A new section of the Public School Code is
166166 enacted to read:
167167 "[NEW MATERIAL] STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND ATTENDANCE
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196196 IMPROVEMENT.--
197197 A. To improve student engagement, schools shall
198198 implement engagement strategies, including:
199199 (1) programs to expose students to career
200200 pathways through career fairs, internships and visits to work
201201 sites in various industries;
202202 (2) development of individualized student
203203 learning plans that incorporate students' career interests and
204204 goals; and
205205 (3) recognition of students through rewards,
206206 public acknowledgment, honors and incentives for participation
207207 and achievement in workforce readiness programs.
208208 B. The department shall develop a comprehensive
209209 plan to monitor and improve attendance rates. The plan shall
210210 include:
211211 (1) early intervention programs that identify
212212 students who are at risk of chronic absenteeism and provide
213213 them with targeted support, including tutoring, mentorship and
214214 family engagement strategies;
215215 (2) flexible scheduling and virtual learning
216216 options for students who participate in workforce readiness
217217 pathways; and
218218 (3) engagement of employers and community
219219 organizations to assist with providing incentives and
220220 supporting students in workforce-related learning activities."
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249249 SECTION 5. A new section of the Public School Code is
250250 enacted to read:
251251 "[NEW MATERIAL] PROGRAM EVALUATION--ACCOUNTABILITY.--
252252 A. Each year, the department, in collaboration with
253253 the workforce solutions department, shall evaluate the
254254 effectiveness of the workforce readiness programs provided for
255255 in the Workforce Readiness and Student Engagement Act. The
256256 evaluation shall include documentation of:
257257 (1) the number of students who completed a
258258 certification, dual credit course or apprenticeship;
259259 (2) the post-graduation employment rate of
260260 students who previously participated in workforce readiness
261261 programs; and
262262 (3) the impact on student attendance and
263263 engagement rates.
264264 B. The department shall submit an annual report to
265265 the legislature on workforce readiness programs provided for
266266 under the Workforce Readiness and Student Engagement Act. The
267267 annual report shall describe the progress of workforce
268268 readiness programs, attendance improvement strategies
269269 implemented through the programs and the effectiveness of the
270270 programs."
271271 SECTION 6. APPROPRIATION.--Twenty million dollars
272272 ($20,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the
273273 public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2026
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302302 and subsequent fiscal years to support workforce readiness
303303 programs created pursuant to the Workforce Readiness and
304304 Student Engagement Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance
305305 remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the
306306 general fund.
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