AFT News:
Monday saw a big day for three pieces of legislation that AFT New Mexico is working to support and ultimately pass during the 2023 Legislative Session.
Additionally, one piece of legislation, SB 4, received a unanimous “do pass” this morning after a few amendments were made over the weekend.
Monday, Jan. 30:
Senate Education Committee
Senate Bill 4, carried by Senators Michael Padilla and Leo Jaramillo, would institute the “Healthy Universal School Meals Act” which would provide free breakfast and lunch for all New Mexico students without regard to ability to pay.
AFT New Mexico spoke in favor of SB 4 when it was originally presented last week, and we are pleased to report this effort received a unanimous ‘do pass’ from members of the Senate Education Committee this morning.
House Education Committee
House Bill 82, the Student Borrowers Bill of Rights, received its first committee hearing this morning. Sponsored by Reps. Christine Chandler and Patricia Roybal Caballero, this legislation seeks to regulate and license student debt servicers doing business in New Mexico.
The legislation also provides mechanisms for when borrowers are defrauded by lenders through deceptive practices or procedures by establishing a New Mexico ombud as an in-state advocate for defrauded borrowers.
AFT New Mexico strongly supports HB 82 and spoke in favor of this legislation while in committee. A few technical amendments were offered during the hearing, and those amendments will be prepared for adoption and a final vote on HB 82 Wednesday morning.
House Commerce and Economic Development Committee
House Bill 126, sponsored by Reps. G. Andres Romero and T. Ryan Lane, seeks to adjust the state requirements for high school graduation. This legislation is a result of the work of the Legislative Education Study Committee, and our union has been part of the conversation and feedback as this bill has been developed.
Most notably, HB 126 would remove the Algebra II requirement for graduation and allow local school districts to establish two local units for graduation which fit the needs of their community. The re-worked graduation requirements also allow for greater inclusion of career technical education as part of a student’s pathway to graduation.
AFT New Mexico President Whitney Holland spoke in favor is HB 126 this afternoon in committee. We believe that with greater flexibility and local decision-making in structuring what a graduating high school senior looks like, we can keep more students in school, reduce absences, and increase graduation rates by offering classes that appeal to our students. HB 126 passed the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee advanced the legislation on a vote of 8-2.
House Bill 127 is an effort to raise the minimum wage for educational assistants/instructional assistants and their role group to $25,000/year. It is sponsored by Reps. Susan Herrera, Brian Baca, Willie Madrid, Debbie Sariñana, Christine Trujillo, Patricia Roybal Caballero, and Sens. Mimi Stewart and Linda Lopez.
Last academic year, educational assistants/instructional assistants and their role group received a 7% raise and a minimum of $15/hour in compensation. Unfortunately, even with those raises, many licensed classified educators are still working full time for wages that are equivalent to $17,000-$21,000/year. That is simply not enough for the important work being performed, let alone enough to support a family in New Mexico.
AFT New Mexico Executive Vice President Kathy Chavez spoke in strong support of the legislation and the measure passed the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee advanced the legislation with unanimous support.
Tuesday, Jan. 31:
House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee
HB 150, carried by Rep. Natalie Figueroa, will increase the contributions to the NM Retiree Healthcare Authority by 0.5%, with a split between employees and employers of 0.17% and 0.33%, respectively. This legislation is critical for our AFT NM retiree constituency, and if enacted, HB 150 would help to better fund the Authority’s obligations to New Mexico retirees. AFT NM supports HB 150.