Gov. Bill Richardson toured the state last fall seeking public support and input on higher education reform. During a stop at the University of New Mexico, law student Debra Haaland asked Richardson to support a bill that would extend resident tuition at New Mexico's post-secondary education institutions to members of Indian nations, tribes and pueblos located wholly or partially in New Mexico.
The bill passed and Gov. Richardson on Monday signed SB482, Native American Resident Student Definition.
“Last year, I approached Senator Leonard Tsosie with my idea and he introduced the bill. Unfortunately it was a short session and my bill went nowhere,” Haaland said. “The senator introduced it again this year. UNM Law Professor Kip Bobroff and I went to the capitol building each time it was in front of committee until it passed both houses. The lawmakers were very supportive.”
A graduate of Highland High School, she is a New Mexican and enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo. After attending a graduate program at the University of California-Los Angeles, she was accepted to the UNM law school but assessed out-of-state tuition. The new law provides for resident tuition regardless of the residence of the member prior to acceptance at a post-secondary educational institution.
The law allows New Mexico to retain talented Native Americans and is a win-win for tribe members and the state, said UNM Law Professor Gloria Valencia-Weber.
“Removing the barrier to returning members of New Mexico's tribes and pueblos allows the UNM law school to train more persons who have an understanding of the state, its history and who have commitments to improving the lives of New Mexicans,” Weber said. "The legal profession will benefit from the inclusion of persons with perspectives that improve the quality of representation of individuals, business, nonprofit organizations, and governments. Ultimately, the law school can increase the pool of American Indians and provide the knowledge and skills qualifying them to serve as judges.”
Contact: Laurie Mellas Ramirez, (505) 277-5915
Posted by scarr at April 8, 2005 02:43 PM