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SENATE BILL 107
57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Harold Pope
FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE
AN ACT
RELATING TO EDUCATION; ESTABLISHING THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AT
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY FOR INNOVATION IN SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS; PROVIDING THAT ALL
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE ADMINISTER PROGRAMS PROVIDED FOR BY LAW;
CREATING THE STEM INNOVATION NETWORK; DEFINING TERMS;
DESIGNATING THE PRINCIPAL HUB OF THE NETWORK; ASSIGNING DUTIES
TO THE PRINCIPAL HUB AND STEERING COMMITTEE; PROVIDING FOR THE
SELECTION OF REGIONAL AND TRIBAL HUBS; REQUIRING ANNUAL
REPORTING; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 21-1-27.11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019,
Chapter 60, Section 1) is amended to read:
"21-1-27.11. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.--
A. A "center of excellence" is established at the
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following higher education institutions:
(1) the New Mexico institute of mining and
technology to work toward developing and promoting innovation
in and expanding cybersecurity industries;
(2) New Mexico state university to work toward
developing and promoting innovation in and expanding
sustainable agricultural industries;
(3) San Juan college to work toward developing
and promoting innovation in and expanding sustainable and
renewable energy industries; [and ]
(4) the university of New Mexico health
sciences center-affiliated entity, the New Mexico bioscience
authority, to continue its work toward developing, promoting
innovation in and expanding the bioscience industry in New
Mexico; and
(5) New Mexico state university to work toward
innovations in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics.
B. Each center of excellence provided for in
Subsection A of this section shall foster excellence in the
noted field through:
(1) collaboration among leaders of the state's
agencies, higher education institutions, business sector,
national laboratories and community organizations;
(2) the development by those leaders of
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strategies to accomplish that aim; [and ]
(3) the execution of those strategies; and
(4) the administration of programs provided
for by law.
C. Each center of excellence provided for in
Subsection A of this section shall:
(1) actively seek, and may accept, public and
private funding for its work;
(2) establish short- and long-term goals for
job creation, business creation and private equity investment
outcomes of its work; and
(3) beginning in 2020, report annually to the
higher education department and the legislative finance
committee on its goals and achievements."
SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] STEM INNOVATION NETWORK
CREATED--DUTIES OF PRINCIPAL HUB AND STEERING COMMITTEE--
SELECTION OF REGIONAL AND TRIBAL HUBS--REPORTING.--
A. As used in this section, "network" means the
STEM innovation network.
B. The "STEM innovation network" is created to
foster access to education and employment opportunities in the
fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to
students and educators. The network shall:
(1) consist of no more than eight regional
hubs and a tribal hub for each of the federally recognized
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Indian tribes, nations and pueblos in the state;
(2) identify, connect and strengthen existing
educational programs in the fields of science, technology,
engineering and mathematics;
(3) support the provision of additional in-
school and out-of-school educational opportunities for
students;
(4) coordinate with employers statewide to
expand career opportunities for students and ensure that
students are equipped for employment in the fields of science,
technology, engineering and mathematics; and
(5) connect educators with professional
development opportunities.
C. The center of excellence at New Mexico state
university for innovation in science, technology, engineering
and mathematics is the principal hub for the network and shall
manage the network and provide technical assistance for the
regional and tribal hubs and staff for the steering committee.
D. A regional or tribal hub shall be a local
government or a tribal or private organization or a consortium
of public and private organizations that serves as a point of
contact for public schools, post-secondary educational
institutions, employers and science, technology, engineering or
mathematics industry representatives and connects students with
educational and employment opportunities.
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E. The steering committee consists of:
(1) the secretary of public education or the
secretary's designee;
(2) the secretary of higher education or the
secretary's designee;
(3) the secretary of workforce solutions or
the secretary's designee;
(4) the secretary of early childhood education
and care or the secretary's designee;
(5) the secretary of Indian affairs or the
secretary's designee;
(6) a representative of the mathematics and
science advisory council in the mathematics and science bureau
of the public education department selected by the council;
(7) a member of the faculty at a state public
post-secondary educational institution with expertise in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics appointed by
the secretary of higher education;
(8) a person with business or professional
experience in an industry related to science, technology,
engineering and mathematics appointed by the secretary of
workforce solutions; and
(9) the following persons appointed by the
secretary of public education:
(a) a public school teacher;
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(b) a person with expertise in providing
out-of-school programming and services related to science,
technology, engineering and mathematics;
(c) a charter school administrator or
teacher;
(d) a representative of the Navajo
Nation with expertise in education;
(e) a representative of the Mescalero
Apache Tribe with expertise in education;
(f) a representative of the Jicarilla
Apache Nation with expertise in education; and
(g) a representative of the all pueblo
council of governors with expertise in education.
F. The steering committee shall meet at least once
each quarter of the fiscal year and adopt an annual work plan
and program requirements and priorities. Members of the
steering committee who are not public employees or otherwise
reimbursed for per diem and mileage expenses are entitled to
receive per diem and mileage reimbursement at the same rate as
state employees in accordance with the Per Diem and Mileage Act
and shall not receive any other compensation, perquisite or
allowance.
G. Selection of the regional and tribal hubs shall
be as follows:
(1) the steering committee shall approve an
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application process for regional and tribal hubs that includes
criteria for eligibility;
(2) the principal hub shall administer the
application process and make reasonable efforts to conduct
outreach to Indian tribes, nations and pueblos, conduct an
initial review of applications received and make
recommendations to the steering committee for selection; and
(3) the steering committee shall select the
regional and tribal hubs from the applications submitted.
H. The principal hub shall prepare an annual report
regarding the development of the network, goals and
achievements of the regional and tribal hubs and the activities
of the steering committee. A copy of the report shall be
provided to the governor and legislature.
SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--Six million dollars
($6,000,000) is appropriated from the public education reform
fund to the public education department for expenditure in
fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to support the STEM innovation
network. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at
the end of fiscal year 2028 shall revert to the public
education reform fund.
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