Bill to change whistleblower act put on hold

Abill seeking to make changes to New Mexico’s Whistleblower Protection Act has been shelved for this year’s 60-day session. Sen. Jacob Candelaria, D-Albuquerque, asked Monday that the bill be placed permanently on the president’s table, a move that essentially puts it on hold indefinitely.

But Candelaria said he would continue working on the legislation in the coming months, with the intention of possibly bringing it back — with some changes — for the 2018 session.

His bill, Senate Bill 299, had proposed sweeping changes to the whistleblower law, including a higher standard for proving “retaliation” against those who report government corruption or wrongdoing.

The proposal drew fierce opposition from some ethics groups, but was backed by groups representing New Mexico cities and counties. They claim the current 2010 law is so broad that government entities frequently settle claims to avoid litigation.

— Dan Boyd, dboyd@abqjournal.com

VETO OVERRIDE: A Republican senator could move forward with a veto override attempt today after talks about a teacher attendance bill yielded no compromise agreement.

Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, said he and teachers union leaders met Monday for more than an hour with Public Education Department officials, but could not strike a deal.

“We’re at an impasse,” Brandt told the Journal. “Nothing has been resolved.”

Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed legislation that would have allowed teachers to take more of the allowable sick leave time in their contracts — 10 days per year in most districts — without being penalized on their statesanctioned evaluations.

Brandt initially vowed to launch a veto override attempt, but said later that he would try to strike a compromise before moving ahead on the rare procedural move.

He said one idea discussed Monday involved attaching the teacher attendance provision onto a bill enshrining the state’s teacher evaluation system into law.

— Dan Boyd

SCHOOL GRADES: A council would be created to study and propose changes to New Mexico’s school grading system under a bill approved Monday by the state Senate.

The A-F grading system was adopted in 2011, and grades are assigned annually to all elementary, middle and high schools.

However, the system has come under fire, with Sen. Howie Morales, D-Silver City, saying Monday that its methodology is too confusing even for experts to understand.

The proposed council, which would be made up of school principals, superintendents and others, would make recommendations that would go into effect for the 2019-20 school year.

Senate Bill 40 was approved by a 23-15 vote. It now goes to the House.

— Dan Boyd

WOMEN’S HISTORY: Gov. Susana Martinez delivered a keynote address in Austin, Texas, on Monday as part of an event celebrating Women’s History Month.

She was invited by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a fellow Republican, and she returned to New Mexico later in the day.

Martinez met with a variety of Texas officials to discuss the importance of women in office, according to a spokesman.

— Dan McKay, dmckay@abqjournal.com