Bill > HB467

This bill proposes several key provisions to enhance multicultural student safety and support in New Mexico's education system. It amends existing statutes to broaden protections against discrimination, expanding the list of characteristics that cannot be used as a basis for disparate treatment to include disability, home language, gender, and family income level. The bill prohibits demeaning, bullying, or punishing students for their cultural characteristics or symbols. It establishes an online reporting portal (replacing a previous hotline) for racially motivated incidents, with submissions kept confidential and exempt from public records requests. The legislation also strengthens bilingual and multicultural education programs by emphasizing the use of home or heritage languages in instruction and prioritizing language development in early grades. Additionally, the bill modifies the Hispanic Education Advisory Council and Black Education Liaison roles, ensuring more comprehensive support for minority students. The bill aims to create more inclusive, supportive, and culturally responsive educational environments by protecting students from discrimination, promoting cultural understanding, and providing mechanisms for reporting and addressing racially motivated incidents.

Education

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=467&year=25