Picture is of Representative Alonzo Baldonado speaking with visiting FFA students about the legislative process. Alonzo is a Godly man! Could be a future Governor of NM! This picture is from is Facebook. FGGAM NEWS received these news releases Friday afternoon and in the night from the New Mexico House Republican Caucus:
Senate Boss Michael Sanchez Leaves Children Vulnerable to Predators
Santa Fe, NM – Friday, Senate Boss Michael Sanchez effectively killed three bipartisan House bills that would protect New Mexico’s children by referring them to three committees each. One bill, sponsored by Reps. Sarah Maestas Barnes, Randal Crowder and Democrat Javier Martinez and supported by Democrat Attorney General Hector Balderas, would close a dangerous child pornography loophole and two bills, sponsored by Rep. Conrad James, would toughen New Mexico’s child abuse laws.
“It’s reprehensible that Michael Sanchez would assign this bipartisan bill that will protect vulnerable children to three committees,” Rep. Alonzo Baldonado, House Majority Whip, said. “This cynical procedural move is him killing the legislation. He is standing up for child predators and not for New Mexico’s children.”
“I am extremely disappointed,” James said. “Our children need the protections in these laws to keep them safe. The Legislature needs to look out for our children – not the dangerous people looking to hurt them.”
Similar legislation was proposed last year which passed the House Floor with overwhelming bipartisan support. Legislation to close the porn loophole passed the House unanimously and legislation to strengthen penalties for child abuse passed the House by a 50-10 vote.
This year, House Bill 65 would close the dangerous child pornography loophole passed the House Floor on a 60-2 vote and House Bills 68 and 69 would toughen child abuse laws passed by votes of 61-1 and unanimously, respectively.
Sanchez has a hardened record of killing legislation that would protect New Mexico children.
Legislation Allowing Adjunct Teachers Passes House on Bipartisan Vote
Santa Fe, NM – Today HB 145, a bill that would allow adjunct teachers, passed the House with bipartisan support on a 37-25 vote. The bill would allow New Mexicans with at least a bachelor degree to teach part-time without having to go back to school and get a teaching degree.
The proposal would help bring much-needed expertise back to the classroom and make it easier for dedicated professionals to invest in New Mexico students. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Conrad James.
“I’m encouraged that this bill passed with bipartisan support in the House,” said James. “I urge the Senate to pass this bill quickly and help us address the critical lack of qualified teachers we face here in the state and give our students the education they deserve.”
The bill would require adjunct teachers to pass a teacher license assessment test and successfully complete a pedagogy class. Prospective adjunct teachers must also have a bachelor’s degree and three years of work experience in their field. Adjunct teachers would operate on a yearly contract, and may be terminated at any time without cause. School districts would be allowed to choose whether or not they allow adjunct teachers.
James introduced similar legislation in the 2015 session, but after passing the House, it was killed in the Senate.
House Approves Bipartisan Bill to Improve Student Reading Outcomes
Bill now awaits consideration by the Senate
Santa Fe, NM – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Monica Youngblood to improve student reading passed the House of Representatives this evening by a bipartisan 35-27 vote. The bill, HB 67, would provide early identification of struggling readers, make intensive reading intervention and instruction available to these students, and end the practice of promoting students who cannot demonstrate basic reading skills by the end of third grade.
“Advancing students through the system without giving them reading skills they need to succeed is setting them up for future failure,” Youngblood said. “Kids who do not have a basic ability to read by the time they leave the third grade will only fall further behind their peers. The strategies included in this proposal ensure that we use every method possible to equip these students with the tools they need to graduate.”
The bill requires an early screening assessment for kids in kindergarten through third grade. The annual assessment would evaluate students to help teachers identify struggling readers in need of targeted remediation and instruction.
Youngblood’s proposal would provide professional development and support from reading coaches to teachers so they can effectively apply intensive intervention strategies. The bill would require that parents are kept informed of the student’s progress and given reading strategies to use at home.
HB 67 includes four good cause exemptions for students demonstrating proficiency in alternate norm-referenced assessment, English language learners, students with disabilities and students who have already been retained once between grades K-2nd. Students would only be retained if they are unable score above level 1 on a 1-5 scale assessment for reading proficiency after all intervention measures have been exhausted.
Studies show that students are four times more likely to drop out if they are unable to read proficiently by the third grade. One study found that 88 percent of high school dropouts were not proficient readers in the third grade. Currently, only 24 percent of New Mexico fourth graders have grade-level reading skills.
Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Gender Pay Equity Act
Santa Fe, NM – Today, Rep. Nate Gentry introduced the Gender Pay Equity Act, legislation to provide a tax credit to business owners who can demonstrate 100 percent gender pay equity. The bill, HB 282, was co-signed by Speaker Don Tripp as well as Reps. Alonzo Baldonado, Sharon Chahchischillage, Kelly Fajardo, Sarah Maestas Barnes, Terry McMillan, Andy Nuñez, Paul Pacheco, and John Zimmerman. It is also supported by Sen. Mimi Stewart.
“Equal work should result in equal pay,” Gentry said. “This credit is a pat on the back for employers who ensure that the women and men working for them are being paid fairly.”
“It’s past time to ensure equal pay for equal work,” said Stewart. “This incentive rewards businesses that promote and provide pay equity for all their employees.”
“I am happy to support this incentive that will encourage businesses to treat their employees fairly and equally,” Tripp said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income for full-time working women in the United States is 79 percent of the median income for men. The Gender Pay Equity Act would authorize a $5,000 tax credit for businesses and employers who provide 100 percent gender pay equity to their employees.
To qualify for the tax credit, the NM Human Rights Commission would need to certify that the employer provided 100 percent pay equity during the previous year. The Commission would evaluate the business’s job classifications, total number of hours worked by each employee and the total compensation for each employee during the prior calendar year before issuing the certification.
Taxpayers may claim the tax credit within one year of being certified. In addition, the bill directs the NM Tax and Revenue Department to provide and annual report to the Legislature to disclose the number of taxpayers approved to receive the credit and to evaluate the effectiveness of the credit.
Independent Ethics Commission Proposal Passes House Committee on 8-0 Vote
Santa Fe, NM – Today the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee unanimously passed a proposed constitutional amendment to establish an independent state ethics commission. House Joint Resolution 5, sponsored by Rep. Jim Dines, would give New Mexico voters the option to approve this process to uphold ethical standards in state government.
“An independent ethics commission will help ensure that public officials are adhering to ethical standards,” Dines said. “This resolution provides a transparent process for reviewing allegations of misconduct.”
The independent ethics commission proposed by Dines would be made up of nine members – Republicans, Democrats and an Independent. All hearings and findings of this commission would be open to the public.
The proposed commission would review complaints made against public officials, employees, government contractors and lobbyists. It would also have the authority to initiate inquiries and issue subpoenas. Importantly, it would be able to review rules governing ethical conduct and provide guidance to public officials through the issuance of advisory opinions.
The proposed commission would oversee the legislative and executive branches of state government. The judicial branch of state government has its own Judicial Standards Commission, and it is not included in the legislation.
Last session, Dines co-sponsored legislation that would have required legislators, cabinet secretaries and public regulation commissioners to go through a two year “cooling off” phase before they could become a paid lobbyist. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support, but it died in the Senate.
###
