Freshman state Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque) recently praised one of a package of bills signed into law earlier this year that established "Purple Star Schools" in New Mexico.
"Bringing the Purple Star Program to the land of enchantment is a huge win for New Mexico's military families," Duhigg said in a June 5 Twitter post. "This program provides specialized social and educational support to children of military families who face challenges due to frequent relocation."
Gov. Michelle Grisham
| governor.state.nm.us
Senate Bill 271, one of three bills signed into law as a package in April, establishes Purple Star Schools in New Mexico.
Purple Star Schools are a nationally recognized program that provides mentoring and inclusion programs for military-connected students. The program also provides professional development for school staff and teachers on the peculiar challenges that students from military families face, particularly each time they move. Schools must meet program requirements to be designated as a Purple Star School.
Duhigg, an election- and consumer-protection attorney and former Albuquerque city clerk, represents State Senate District 10 since her election to the seat in November.
New Mexico Senate District 10 encompasses portions of Albuquerque's Westside in the Paseo del Norte and Coors corridor, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque from Montano north, and a portion of Rio Rancho.
SB 271 and the two other bills, House Bill 120 and Senate Bill 272, were signed by Gov. Michelle Grisham on April 8 to provide added support to military families. The three bills had strong bipartisan support and unanimously cleared the state legislature.
The package "will improve the quality of life for military families and veterans as they move to New Mexico," a statement released by the governor's office at the time said.
"New Mexico recognizes the stress and challenges a military family faces due to frequent relocations," Grisham said in the statement. "We are fully committed to supporting our military installations and the families who serve."
HB 120 improves on the benefits passed in a prior session by adding essential occupations, such as accounting and architecture, and expanding others, like nursing and teaching. HB 120 also reduces processing time in half, from 60 to 30 days, and eliminates documentation requirements for a military spouses beyond a home license.
SB 272 allows military families with orders to move to New Mexico, but who have not yet arrived to enrolL their children into schools, to register for classes and apply for specialized programs during normal enrollment periods.
SB 272 "will promote a smooth transition for the nearly 8,500 military-connected school-age children in New Mexico," the statement said.
