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MINIMUM WAGE ACT FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCES IN NEW MEXICO 1

49th LEGISLATURE – STATE OF NEW MEXICO – SECOND SESSION, 2010 2

DISCUSSION DRAFT 3

INTRODUCED BY 4

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AN ACT 7

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: 8

Section 1. To ensure superior quality staffing for K-14 in the State of New Mexico 9

the state legislature will hereby enact a minimum wage requirement for K-14 10

educational assistances to take effect on July 1, 2010. This bill will encourage a level of 11

quality of education and skills for these educational assistances living in the State of 12

New Mexico therefore encouraging a higher standard for the education of our children 13

both current and future. 14

Section 2. The minimum wage limit is to be set at a gross pay of no less than 15

$35,000 per year for the above specified educational assistances employed in The 16

State of New Mexico. 17

Section 3. All K-14 educational assistances in The State of New Mexico will be 18

required to have completed a two year degree in their field of study or in the field of 19

basic education as a basic requirement or have successfully practiced in their chosen 20

field for a minimum of 10 years and competed a set number of basic education courses 21

in order to meet requirements and be licensed by The State of New Mexico before 22

being allowed to work with students therefore providing proof of their educational statue 23

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or their technical skills levels. Employees currently employed as educational 1

assistances will be grandfathered into the system and will take part in continuing 2

educational credits in order to maintain their active status as an educational assistance. 3

No new hires will be permitted at the K-14 levels that do not meet the basic educational 4

or skills requirements of this bill. 5

Section 4. All educational assistances will be required to complete a level of 6

yearly continuing educational credits that ensure current levels of expertise in their field 7

to be determined by the state educational secretary in accordance with current elected 8

schools boards across the state. 9

These continuing educational credits will be paid for by the local school systems and 10

professional leave off with pay will be granted to employees in order to allow for the time 11

needed to complete continuing education of these employees therefore allowing these 12

employees to maintain a consistence high level of skills in the field and to meet basic 13

yearly continuing educational credit requirements for state licensure. 14

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