2012 Legislative Session begins January 17

January 13, 2012

The 2012 New Mexico Legislative Session is geared up and ready to begin next week on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.  Albuquerque Public Schools believes it is essential that New Mexico's lawmakers understand the complex issues in education and make the best decisions possible regarding students and educators in the state.

Our students, families, communities and staff can rest assured that we will advocate every day for their best interests.

The New Mexico Legislature meets every year for either thirty or sixty days.  This year, 2012, the Legislature will meet for thirty days.

The fact that the Legislature is only meeting for thirty days this year is an important thing to remember.  Only several items may be discussed during a thirty-day session:

• The state budget (also known as appropriations);
• The process for establishing the state budget;
• Different ways to generate revenue or to improve revenues the state already receives (also known as taxes); and
• Any topic the governor grants permission to be discussed.

APS has and will continue to advocate for sufficient funding for public schools.  It's our top priority.  However, there are a few things that APS believes need to be discussed.  Those include local control for new educational reforms, changes to the charter school laws and the ability for a school district to have its own police department.  We hope the governor grants permission to the Legislature to discuss those items.

For more information about the APS priorities in the 2012 Legislative Session, please check out our legislative agenda!