[Nmtriblibs] FW: [EXTERNAL] NMLA 2023 Legislative Bulletin #3

[Moore, Patricia, DCA]

Forwarded on behalf of Joe Sabatini…


From: Joe Sabatini <jsabatini423 at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2023 8:44 PM
Subject: NMLA 2023 Legislative Bulletin #3
NMLA 2023 Legislative Bulletin #3                                                    January 30, 2023

LIBRARY LEGISLATIVE DAY

Thanks to all who attended Legislative Day from all four corners of the state. Rep. Gail Armstrong made remarks about the value of libraries during introductory ceremonies in the House, and recognized us in the gallery. Senator Peter Wirth did mention that it was Library Legislative Day, but there were no further remarks in the Senate.

 Thanks to Lynette Schurdevin for doing the logistics and moderating the program for the legislative briefing.  Thanks to Larry Horan, Eli Guinnee and the other speakers for their presentations.

On the Legislature’s website, Rep. Armstrong’s remarks can be viewed on the webcast at
https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00293/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20230127/-1/70655
with her remarks starting at 11:56:45 am, and resuming at 11:59:00 am.
Senator Worth’s mention is at 11:31:00 am at
https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00293/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20230127/-1/70654


BILLS INTRODUCED

Rural Libraries Endowment Fund
On January 25th, Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino introduced Senate Bill 214 to appropriate $37 million to the fund. Representative Susan K. Herrera is the co-sponsor in the House. The bill is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee. The text is below.

San Miguel County Rural Libraries
On January 26th, Senators Liz Stefanics, Senator Pete Campos and Representative Ambrose Castellano introduced SB 258, appropriating $42,000 for rural library services in San Miguel County.  The text is below.

COMMITTEE HEARINGS

Tribal Libraries

The House Education Committee heard two of Rep. Derrick Lente’s Tribal Education Initiative (TEA) bills on January 27th.  HB 140 creates a Tribal Education Trust Fund, appropriating $50 million to establish the fund. Proceeds from the fund would be allocated directly to tribal education departments, bypassing the current method of having the Public Education Department reimburse tribes for educational expenditures they make under the Indian Education Act. HB 147 creates a tribal education fund in the State Treasury to handle Tribal Education Trust Fund money. The objective is to ensure that tribes receive stable and consistent funding to carry out tribally based education programs. Such funding would not revert to the state.


The Committee meeting webcast is available on the website at:
https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00293/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20230127/-1/70647

Discussion of HB 140 begins at 10:02:00 am.

Several librarians and library supporters spoke in favor of these two bills.

Lillian Chavez, Mescalero Community Librarian, speaks at 10:29:50. Lillian describes the community benefits that resulted from state investments in library programs at Mescalero.
Alana McGrattan, retired Santa Fe Indian School librarian and retired State Library Tribal Libraries Coordinator begins at 10:32:30. Alana describes the educational benefits of putting control of the funding into the hands of tribal communities, as exemplified by the effectiveness of the Santa Fe Indian School.
Valarie Bellson, Zuni Public Library, begins at 10:33:40. Valarie said that the legislation will enable civic engagement for the people of the community, so that students can grow up to be leaders.
Tracey Charlie, Acoma Learning Center, 10:42:00, supports the bill.

The Committee gives the bill a unanimous do-pass recommendation at 11:53:00

Discussion of HB 147 begins at 10:54:00.
An Isleta Pueblo tribal official whose name is inaudible starts at 10:56:15. He speaks to the fact that the Isleta Public Library is open to all the public, not just tribal members.
Nambe Tribal Library Coordinator (Tracy Hill?) begins at 10:58:15. She describes the difficulty of starting a new library when the granted funds must be spent by the end of the fiscal year. She supports allowing tribes to be able to roll over the funds so that they can be spent effectively.
A San Felipe Pueblo official (name inaudible) speaks at 11:58:00. He states that the San Felipe Library is also open to the entire community.
Lillian Chavez, at 11:59:00 states that the Mescalero Apache Tribe also supports HB 147. She has a situation comparable to the one described at Nambe, where a large allocation from the 2022 legislature for library programs has just arrived, and she must spend those funds by the end of this fiscal year.
A school official from Cuba noted that children on the Eastern Navajo reservation lacked access to libraries and other services.
James Naranjo, Lt. Governor of Santa Clara Pueblo recalled the benefits he gained using the library at the Santa Fe Indian School, at 11:04:20. A Lt. Governor of Laguna Pueblo mentions libraries at 11:10:00.
Tracey Charley supports HB 147 at 11:17:20. Committee discussion begins at 11:18:00. The Committee gives a unanimous do-pass recommendation to HB 147 at 11:19:00

The bills now go to the House Appropriations and Finance  Committee.


HB 140 and HB 147 are summarized in the TEA’s web posting: https://tribaleducationalliance.org/


Joe Sabatini, Co-Chair
NMLA Legislation Committee



SENATE BILL 214
56TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2023
INTRODUCED BY Gerald Ortiz y Pino and Susan K. Herrera

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE RURAL LIBRARIES ENDOWMENT FUND. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION. --Thirty-seven million dollars ($37,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the rural libraries endowment fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2024 and subsequent fiscal years for the purposes of the fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.



SENATE BILL 258
56TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2023
INTRODUCED By Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics and Pete Campos and Ambrose Castellano

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION FOR SAN MIGUEL COUNTY TO PROVIDE LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION. --Forty-two thousand dollars ($42,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the local government division of the department of finance and
administration for expenditure in fiscal year 2024 for San Miguel county to provide library and community services in rural areas of the county. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2024 shall revert to the general fund

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