The The latest news from Luna Community College Second Volume 3, Issue 2 Jan. 31, 2020 Luna active as session opens Higher ed funding among key priorities to be tackled The 54th New Mexico Legislature kicked off Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the state capitol, and funding for higher education appears to be a key talking point for this 30-day session. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham used her first State of the State address to list her planned initiatives Luna President Dr. Rolando Rael, Sen. Pete Campos (D-Colfax, — including the New Mexico Guadalupe, Harding, Mora, Quay, San Miguel, Taos) and Luna’s Opportunity Scholarship, which Francisco Apodaca discuss the opening of the 54th state legislature. would pay for college tuition and fees for recent high school graduates and returning community college students. Luna’s Francisco Apodaca The Legislative Finance and President Rael meet Committee countered with its own with Sen. Liz Stefanics (D- recommendation — a more targeted, Bernalillo, Lincoln, San need-based funding package that Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance, Valencia) and Rep. Martin boosts money for the existing lottery Zamora (R-Curry, DeBaca, scholarship while adding funds in Guadalupe, Roosevelt, San other grant and scholarship areas. Miguel) inside the However lawmakers decide to Roundhouse. alter higher education funding, it figures to have an impact for Luna Community College. On even-numbered years like 2020, the legislature holds 30-day Thursday, Feb. 20. session, Luna has had a contingent in sessions, which means budget items Luna is seeking capital outlay Santa Fe, meeting with legislators take precedence for lawmakers. But funds to upgrade its aging HVAC and working to ensure the college’s the legislature is also expected to act systems on campus, among other funding requests are considered and on a number of other bills during the priority needs. gaining insights from lawmakers on session, which runs through noon Over the first two days of the ways to better serve the region. Hector Hernandez here Feb. 13 Secret Service agent with Las Vegas ties to visit Luna campus ector Hernandez has been H considered an underdog all his life. Perhaps that motivation has prompted him to be successful in almost anything he sets his sights on. Hernandez has been a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service for 28 years and has worked in the prestigious Presidential Protective Division in Washington, D.C., where he protected the likes of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and most recently Vice President Mike Pence. Veteran Secret Service agent Hector Hernandez, left, accompanies “I still feel like I have a lot to prove,” then-President Barack Obama for a public event. says Hernandez. “My entire life I have always been an underdog. I’ve always put division, the first in school history. He Service Candidate Development in a lot of extra work.” was selected to represent the United Program. After successfully completing Hernandez is scheduled to give a States on a U.S. national team, which the program, he was certified and joined motivational talk and answer questions competed in Russia. the Senior Executive Service ranks. In from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on “When I showed up in Las Vegas, I 2016, he was appointed as the Deputy Thursday, Feb. 13, at Luna’s Media Arts had something to prove,” says Special Agent in charge on the Vice Auditorium. He is also scheduled to have Hernandez. “I decided I was going to Presidential Protective Division. In a clinic with West Las Vegas High adopt this city as my own. I had the August 2018, he was promoted to Special wrestlers that afternoon and give another support of the entire student body, and I Agent in charge on the Vice Presidential motivation talk at WLV on the 14th. always had faith in God. That year, Coach Protective Division. After successfully Hernandez’ talk at Luna is open to Sanchez’ son Michael died in a car completing this assignment, he was everyone. accident, and I dedicated the season to promoted to Deputy Assistant Director in His connection to this area was him. This meant much more to me than a the Office of Training, where he is through the New Mexico Highlands gold medal.” currently assigned. University wrestling program. When he While at Highlands, Hernandez Even with all his success, including was a high school senior in El Paso, most earned a bachelor of arts degree in the fact that he is the first Hispanic to be major college programs overlooked him. political science and a master of arts in charge of the Vice Presidential Some, like the University of Arizona and degree in sociology. Protective Division, Hernandez says he University of Michigan, offered “My talk will be to remind young still considers himself an underdog. Hernandez partial scholarships, but only people to never give up and always “There’s still a lot to be done,” says Highlands’ head coach, Steve Sanchez, remember they are never out of the Hernandez. “I’m always trying to set the offered him a full scholarship. fight,” says Hernandez. “Success is not tone for minorities, including women. In 1987, Hernandez rewarded an easy road; you have to prepare for it.” Every promotion I’ve ever had was due to Sanchez for having the confidence to In 2014, he was selected as a hard work.” believe in him, winning the NAIA candidate for the Department of championship in the heavyweight Homeland Security, Senior Executive 2 readiness program for American Indian students; Senate Bill 30 LEGISLATION amount $650,000 … Introduced by Rep. Derrick … creates a Lente; currently in House Education research grants OF INTEREST House Bill 152 … creates fund for adult education closing fund for services; amount: $6 million (see also SB 112) … state colleges and Introduced by Rep. Christine Trujillo; currently in universities in the TO LCC House Education amount of $10 House Bill 172 … provides funding for colleges to million … House Bill 2 … General Appropriation Act, includes offset costs of waiving tuition for high school dual- Introduced by statewide higher education funding with $913.6 credit students; amount: $10 million (see also SB 37) Sen. William million from general fund, $664,700 from other state … Introduced by Rep. Nathan Small; currently in Soules; currently funds, $51.5 million from internal service funds and House Education in Senate interagency transfers, and $4.9 million from federal House Bill 177 … creates regional partnership Committees funds … Introduced by Rep. Patricia Lundstrom; project for teacher preparation among Pojoaque Valley Senate Bill 36 currently in House Appropriations & Finance schools, NMHU and Los Alamos National Lab … … Creates House Bill 37 … introduces specific contract Introduced by Rep. Andrea Romero; currently in teacher provisions, terms and limitations for college presidents House Education preparation task and athletics staff… … Introduced by Rep. William House Bill 180 … provides for a loan repayment force … Rehm; currently in House Rules & Order program for public school instructional support Introduced by Sen. William Soules; currently in Senate House Bill 45 … increases rates of employee and providers … Introduced by Rep. David Gallegos; Committees employer contributions to the Retiree Health care currently in House Rules & Order Senate Bill 37 … provides funding for colleges to fund, transfers $12.4 million from General Fund to House Bill 189 … general appropriations act of offset costs of waiving tuition for high school dual- Retiree Health Care Fund … Introduced by Rep. 2020, includes $10,434,200 in Luna Community credit students; amount: $10 million (see also HB Tomas Salazar and Rep. Raymundo Lara; currently College funding as follows: $7,273,000 instruction 172)… Introduced by Sen. William Soules; currently scheduled for House Labor, Veterans & Military and general, 497,000 athletics and 1,866,000 for other in Senate Education Affairs on main campus; $530,600 for student retention and Senate Bill 38 … creates commission on equity and House Bill 46 … requires automatic contribution completion and $267,000 for nurse expansion excellence in education; amount $50,000 … increases from Alternative Retirement Plan program … Introduced by Rep. Joseph Sanchez and Introduced by Sen. Mimi Stewart; currently in Senate participants to the Educational Retirement Fund, equal Rep. Patricia Lundstrom; currently in House Committees to any statutory increase in employer contributions Appropriations & Finance Senate Bill 65 … increases standard per diem rate from local administrative units; transfers $50 million House Bill 197 … appropriates $1 million for a for public officers and employees to $131 … from General Fund to ERF plus equivalent of 1 demonstration project to establish and support early Introduced by Sen. Pat Woods and Sen. Ron Griggs; percent of participant annual salaries … Introduced by childhood education programs in rural communities currently in Senate Committees Rep. Tomas Salazar; currently in House Labor, … Introduced by Rep. Rodolpho Martinez; currently Senate Bill 89 … creates scholarship program for Veterans & Military Affairs in House Education bilingual teachers in exchange for service; appropriates House Bill 69 … establishes pilot program to reduce House Bill 200 … provides for income tax credit for $1 million … Introduced by Sen. William Soules; college hunger; amount $100,000 … Introduced by early childhood workers … Introduced by Rep. currently in Senate Committees Rep. Joanne Ferrary and Rep. Christine Trujillo; Micaela Lara Cadena and Rep. Rebecca Dow; Senate Bill 111 … amends Educational Retirement currently in House Education currently in House Consumer & Public Affairs Act to modify conditions of retirement for certain House Bill 83 … creates an early childhood House Bill 240 … provides for scholars program for retirees who return to work … Introduced by Sen. education and care program fund; initial amount $20 doctorates in bilingual education and teaching on Mimi Stewart; currently in Senate Committees million (see also SB 3)… Introduced by Rep.