Font ResizeDays remaining in session: 31
•Bully prevention: A bill that would require the Public Education Department to establish guidelines for bullying prevention policies to be implemented by every public school in the state cleared its final Senate committee on Wednesday and will next be heard by the full Senate.
"I am bringing this bill to protect not only our students, but also our teachers and school districts," Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Do-a Ana, said of SB 78. "The Las Vegas School District has been dealing with a $4 million-plus lawsuit after the so-called 'hazing' incidents last year. I therefore view this as a cost-saving measure, in addition to one that will make our schools safe for our children."
A separate bill by Garcia to outlaw leaving children age 7 and younger in a car during times of extreme heat or cold was passed Tuesday night in the Senate Public Affairs Committee. SB 213 will advance to the Judiciary Committee. It is one of four bills introduced by Garcia dealing with child abuse.
•Immigration fight delayed: For several days, Roundhouse regulars have waited for what could become the first major floor fight of the session. But once again, the debate on Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, was put off.
Wirth's bill, as originally drafted, would make it harder for ticket-prone teenagers to get driver's licenses. However, as noted in an article in Wednesday's New Mexican, some Republicans want to tack on
That would be an end run around the committee process. One such bill was effectively killed in a House committee last week. At least two other bills to stop licenses for undocumented immigrants have not shown any progress in either the House or Senate. Wirth said amending his bill to include the immigration issue would be unconstitutional because such an amendment would change the intent of the original bill.
When it came time for the bill to be heard, Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen announced the measure would be going back to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Wirth told reporters afterward that he had planned to introduce a floor substitute for the bill. Earlier in the day there had been a little spat about another senator doing that for another bill.
Wirth said the substitute basically just "cleans up" his original bill and is not an attempt to get around the immigration issue. But Senate Republican Whip Bill Payne of Albuquerque told reporters he thinks that sending the bill back to committee would be a way to let the bill die quietly without a vote. Wirth insists that's not the case.
•Recycle prescription drugs: The state Senate voted 35-0 to pass a bill that would set up rules for the re-use of certain prescription drugs. Prescription drugs are often so expensive that some New Mexicans have trouble paying for them. The legislation would help create a supply of prescription drugs for people who need them and require the state Board of Pharmacy to adopt rules allowing clinics and health care facilities to recycle "donated unadulterated prescription drugs."
According to a fiscal impact report of the legislation, "licensed providers would be able to receive prescription drugs that were previously dispensed to their patients. Before distributing the donated drugs, a licensed provider would examine and certify that the drug has been properly stored and is suitable for redistribution."
•More money for early childhood programs: A constitutional amendment to add more money for early childhood programs cleared the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday morning by a 5-3 vote. Senate Joint Resolution 10 would include early-childhood programs such as pre-kindergarten and home visits for developmentally delayed children in the annual payout to public schools, colleges and universities from the state's more-than-$10 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund. The permanent fund distributes hundreds of millions of dollars each year to K-12 education and higher education. But none of the money currently goes toward early-childhood programs. If the Legislature passes the resolution, New Mexico voters would then have to approve the idea before the change went into effect.
The legislation now goes to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
•What's the status?: Supporters of the Commission on the Status of Women are decrying a measure, HB 528, that would repeal the statute that created the agency. Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-Alamogordo, is sponsoring the measure that would do away with the 37-year-old agency.
The move comes as Gov. Susana Martinez' budget proposal would eliminate funding to the group, and as members are organizing supporters to lobby lawmakers in support of the agency.
"We are disappointed in Tuesday's bill introduction against the commission. We have been and continue to be committed to being a model agency for New Mexico," said commission director Mary Molina Mescall. "We provide a high level of quality services by leveraging our hundreds of community partners."
The commission, which has its office in Albuquerque, gets about $600,000 from the state's General Fund. The rest of its roughly $1.7 million annual budget comes from the federal government. Among other things, it provides employment-skills workshops for women.
The commission says it is willing to accept budget cuts, but not the elimination of the program. Members of the Legislative Finance Committee have recommended a 3.7 percent cut to the agency.
Looking Ahead
•Today is the deadline for bill introductions by all legislators.
•The Senate Finance Committee will hear from State Investment Officer Steve Moise, who will testify on the status of ongoing investigations into his agency. The meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Room 322, but it might start late if the Senate floor session starts late.
•The University of Phoenix is sponsoring an "appreciation dinner" for the Senate & House Education committees at the Bull Ring.
The New Mexican
