The House Education Committee will debate today the feasibility of extending students’ time to apply for the Lottery Scholarship.
Opponents of the bill, including ASUNM, said tinkering with the Lottery Scholarship fund is unwise because the fund is facing financial implications that could gut the program.
Legislation says high school graduates must immediately enroll in college in order to qualify for the scholarship, but the bill, if passed, would allow students a 16-month period to enroll in college after graduating high school.
The measure’s sponsor, Rep. Bill O’Neill (D-Albuquerque), said his North Valley constituents pressured him to introduce the language because it would give them more time to prepare for college.
In its first analysis of the bill, the House Education Committee said giving students extra time to enroll “will allow those that need remediation time to gain the skills they need to succeed.”
The Lottery Scholarship fund is already financially unhinged. Expenditures in 2009 exceeded total revenue by nearly $2 million, according to the Legislative Finance Committee.
In its fiscal impact report, the LFC said with slower recipients’ growth and an expected 5 percent tuition increase at UNM and NMSU, the Lottery Scholarship fund could be tapped by 2015.
No studies have determined how many students would benefit from the 16-month window or how the extended time would financially impact the Lottery Scholarship fund.
The Legislative Finance Committee reported that the fund has raised more than $417 million and assisted more than 61,000 students with their tuition. During that time, enrollment in the state’s four-year colleges increased by more than 9 percent.
O’Neill said he is taking financial concerns seriously and will not support the measure if it will gut the scholarship.
“The important thing is that the Lottery Scholarship program is financially sustainable,” O’Neill said.
Five-foot buffer for road cyclists
Motorists could soon be required to keep a five-foot distance away from cyclists, according to a bill passed by the New Mexico Senate on Friday.
Senate Bill 124, sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), would fine motorists $25 if they violated the comfort zone. The Senate approved the measure 20-17.
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“This bill is aimed to provide more safety for bicyclists sharing roadways with cars and trucks,” Wirth said.
Opponents said the distance requirement was not plausible for rural roads because they are often narrow. Others raised objections that it is an urban problem that should be regulated by cities, not the state.
Cyclists in the UNM area praised the measure and said it was important for drivers to pay attention while on the road.
“You are already taking a risk when riding your bike in the city,” cyclist Max Handon said. “My friend was hit, and the driver was sending a text. It’s cool to force the buffer, but a lot of drivers are still distracted with stupid things.”
Albuquerque already has a similar law to protect bicyclists, but there is no clear fine for violators.
No date has been set for when the House will vote on the measure.
