The bill amends Section 22-8-29.6 of the New Mexico Statutes to expand the permitted uses of the Transportation Emergency Fund. Previously, the fund was designated solely for addressing transportation emergencies, such as fuel price increases. The new legal language allows for additional funding to be allocated for grants to small rural school districts specifically for the purchase of buses intended for student activities.

Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the responsibility of the secretary to ensure the safety of students utilizing transportation services and mandates that the secretary account for all distributions from the fund. Full reports of these payments will be provided to the governor, the legislative education study committee, and the legislative finance committee, ensuring transparency and oversight in the use of the fund.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 22-8-29.6