LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
ACROSS THE STATES

NEW MEXICO

Awaiting a new governor

In August 2002, the Albuquerque Journal reported that "truancy laws have been ignored in the city for years." Democratic and Republican legislators were calling for changes to the compulsory attendance laws to make it easier for schools to prosecute truants. Democratic legislator Rick Miera went on record calling for laws to make truancy a "delinquent act," which could put children in juvenile detention.

With a new governor just elected as this newsletter goes to press, New Mexico homeschoolers are not sure of the incoming administration's attitude towards home education. While Governor-elect Bill Richardson has expressed his support for the right to homeschool, we have yet to see how his new administration will handle education issues. We encourage all New Mexico homeschoolers to work together to help this administration preserve the liberties of homeschooling families. If you have not already done so, please sign up for HSLDA's free e-lerts (available at www.hslda.org) and encourage other families to do the same. By working together, we can preserve the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity!

— Scott W. Somerville