New Mexico Register / Volume XXIX, Issue 10 / May 29, 2018

Notice of proposed rulemaking

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED or department) will hold a public rulemaking hearing on June 29, 2018. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. and will be held at NMHED located at 2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4, Santa Fe, NM 87505. The purpose of the rulemaking hearing is to take public comment regarding proposed amendments to 5.7.31 NMAC - PUBLIC SERVICE LAW LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

Amendments:

5.7.31.7 NMAC, definitions;

5.7.31.9 NMAC, LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY AND AWARD CRITERIA;

Purpose:

The purpose of the proposed rule change is to modify eligibility requirements for the Public Service Law Loan Repayment Assistance Program. The proposed amendments are based upon changes that were made to the program through the signing of Senate Bill 143 in the 2018 regular New Mexico legislative session. The program was modified to statutorily remove the salary cap for applicants, so as to allow the department to set the maximum salary cap in rule. The department seeks to set an eligibility maximum salary cap of $75,000.

Summary of proposed changes:

Amendment to 5.7.31.7 NMAC inserts the term “american bar association” to reflect the statutory criteria for an eligible legal education.

Amendment to 5.7.31.9 modifies the maximum allowable salary cap for eligible participants to $75,000.

Capitalization has been modified throughout to reflect legislative style.

Details for Obtaining a Copy, Public Hearing and Comments: The proposed rule is available at NMHED located at 2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4, Santa Fe, NM 87505-2100. The proposed rule is also posted on the NMHED website and may be accessed at http://www.hed.state.nm.us/ under the “Recent Posting” section. To request that a copy of the proposed rule be sent to you by mail or e-mail, please contact fin.aid@state.nm.us or 1-800-279-9777.

A public hearing will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at NMHED on June 29, 2018. Any person who is or may be affected by this proposed rule may appear and testify. Interested persons may submit written comments to NMHED at 2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4, Santa Fe, NM 87505 or fin.aid@state.nm.us. Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 28, 2018. Please note that any written comments received will become part of the rulemaking record, be posted to the New Mexico Sunshine Portal, and be accessible to the public. If submitting written comments by email, please indicate in the subject line the number and section of each rule(s) for which you are providing comments. Oral comments will also be accepted at the rule hearing, subject to time limitations.

Legal authority for this rulemaking can be found in Section 9-25-8 NMSA 1978, Sections 21-22F-1 et seq. NMSA 1978.

Any person with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing should contact 1-800-279-9777 or email fin.aid@state.nm.us ten (10) business days prior to the hearing.