Bill > HB375

This bill establishes the Graduate Behavioral Health Scholarship Act, which creates a new scholarship program to support graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in behavioral health fields such as counseling, psychiatric nursing, addiction medicine, psychology, and social work. The scholarship fund, created in the state treasury, will provide up to 100% coverage of tuition, fees, books, and licensing costs for eligible students at New Mexico higher education institutions. To be eligible, students must be full-time graduate students in good academic standing who have not yet earned a master's or doctoral degree in their chosen field. Recipients must commit to practicing in New Mexico for the number of years they receive the scholarship, with potential penalties of up to three times the scholarship value if they fail to fulfill this obligation. The Higher Education Department will administer the program, awarding scholarships annually based on projected enrollment, and will be appropriated $10 million from the general fund to support the initiative. Scholarships are awarded for one academic year at a time and can continue until the student completes their graduate degree, but will be terminated if the student withdraws, fails to maintain academic progress, or substantially fails to comply with program rules. The department is required to provide annual reports on the program's status and student outcomes to legislative committees.

Education

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=375&year=25