HB 89
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AN ACT
RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; AMENDING THE GRADUATE
SCHOLARSHIP ACT; CHANGING ELIGIBILITY; INCREASING AWARDS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 21-21G-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1988,
Chapter 111, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:
"21-21G-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Graduate
Scholarship Act:
A. "academic year" means the consecutive period of
two semesters or other comparable units commencing with the
fall term each year;
B. "award recipient" means a student who is a New
Mexico resident and is awarded a graduate scholarship;
C. "department" means the higher education
department;
D. "eligible institution" means a graduate-degree-
granting state university enumerated in Article 12, Section
11 of the constitution of New Mexico and accredited by the
higher learning commission;
E. "graduate field" means a program of study
intended to result in a master's or doctoral degree,
excluding a doctor of medicine; and
F. "groups underrepresented in graduate education"
means women, minorities, persons with a visual impairment or HB 89
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other physical disability and other groups that have
traditionally been underrepresented in the specific area of
graduate study or profession for which the scholarship is
awarded."
SECTION 2. Section 21-21G-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1988,
Chapter 111, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:
"21-21G-5. CONDITIONS FOR FIRST-YEAR ELIGIBILITY.--
A. Priority shall be given to New Mexico students
who are New Mexico residents with the greatest financial need
and students who are residents from groups underrepresented
in graduate education.
B. A scholarship may be awarded to a New Mexico
resident who has:
(1) earned a bachelor's degree and
maintained a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0
scale or who holds a paid position supporting faculty
teaching or research activities;
(2) met the admission requirements, is
accepted for enrollment and enrolls in at least six credit
hours in a graduate field of study; and
(3) complied with all the rules adopted by
the department for award of the scholarship and the
provisions regarding the administration of the graduate
scholarship program."
SECTION 3. Section 21-21G-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1988, HB 89
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Chapter 111, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:
"21-21G-6. CONDITIONS FOR CONTINUING ELIGIBILITY.--
A. Except as provided in Subsection B of this
section, a scholarship may be re-awarded to a student who:
(1) was an award recipient the previous
year;
(2) maintains a grade point average of 3.0
or higher on a 4.0 scale and remains in good academic
standing as determined by the eligible institution; and
(3) is enrolled in at least six credit hours
in a graduate field of study.
B. A graduate scholarship may be granted until the
award recipient either receives a terminal degree or has
qualified and received eight semesters of scholarship,
whichever occurs first."
SECTION 4. Section 21-21G-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1988,
Chapter 111, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:
"21-21G-7. AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIPS.--Scholarship award
amounts shall not exceed one hundred percent of tuition and
fees for the graduate program at the eligible institution for
the academic year; provided that the department shall fund
only one semester at a time and shall not fund the second
semester of the academic year if the student does not enroll
for that semester or does not otherwise maintain
eligibility." HB 89
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SECTION 5. Section 21-21G-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws
1988, Chapter 111, Section 10, as amended) is amended to
read:
"21-21G-10. TERMINATION OF SCHOLARSHIPS.--A scholarship
is terminated upon the occurrence of:
A. withdrawal from the eligible institution by the
award recipient or failure to reenroll for consecutive
academic semesters;
B. failure to maintain the required grade point
average and other qualifications for the scholarship; or
C. substantial noncompliance by the award
recipient with the Graduate Scholarship Act or the rules or
procedures promulgated by the department in accordance with
that act."
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.