The "public school reading proficiency fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of appropriations, gifts, grants and donations. The fund shall be administered by the department, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to distribute awards to public middle, junior and senior high schools that implement innovative, scientifically based reading programs. The department shall develop procedures and rules for the application and award of money from the fund, including criteria upon which to evaluate innovative, scientifically based reading programs. Public schools receiving funds shall show evidence that they are using quality, scientifically based reading research to improve reading proficiency and shall develop individualized reading plans for students who fail to meet grade level reading proficiency standards. Disbursements of the fund shall be made by warrant of the department of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary or the secretary's authorized representative. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain to the credit of the fund.

History: Laws 2000 (2nd S.S.), ch. 14, § 2; 2001, ch. 289, § 2; 1978 Comp., § 22-2-6.12, amended and recompiled as § 22-8-43 by Laws 2003, ch. 153, § 30; 2007, ch. 307, § 5; 2007, ch. 308, § 5.

Recompilations. — Laws 2003, ch. 153, § 30 recompiled former 22-2-6.12 NMSA 1978 as 22-8-43 NMSA 1978, effective April 4, 2003.

Cross references. — For transfer of powers and duties of the state superintendent to the secretary of public education, see 9-24-15 NMSA 1978.

The 2007 amendment, effective July 1, 2007, authorized the use of the fund for awards to middle, junior and senior high schools. Laws 2007, ch. 307, § 5 and Laws 2007, ch. 308, § 5 enacted identical amendments to this section. The section was set out as amended by Laws 2007, ch. 308, § 5. See 12-1-8 NMSA 1978.

The 2003 amendment, effective April 4, 2003, deleted "of education" following "department" twice; substituted "public" for "local" preceding "schools" near the middle of the section; substituted "scientifically based" for "research-based" three times; and substituted "research" for "programs" following "reading" near the middle of the fifth sentence.

The 2001 amendment, effective June 15, 2001, substituted "department of education" for "state department of public education" in two places; added the fifth sentence; and substituted "state superintendent" for "superintendent of public instruction" in the sixth sentence.