Section 22-5-4.9 - High school diplomas; World War II veterans.

22-5-4.9. High school diplomas; World War II veterans.

A.     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Public School Code [22-1-1 NMSA 1978], a local school board may issue a high school diploma to a World War II veteran who:   

(1)     is an honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States;   

(2)     was scheduled to graduate from high school after 1940 and before 1951;   

(3)     was a resident of New Mexico and attended a high school in the locality of the current school district; and   

(4)     left high school before graduation to serve in World War II.   

B.     A local school board may issue a high school diploma to a qualifying World War II veteran regardless of whether the veteran holds a high school equivalency diploma or is deceased.   

C.     The state board [department] shall adopt and promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this section, including:   

(1)     an application form to be submitted by the World War II veteran or a person acting on behalf of the veteran if the veteran is incapacitated or deceased; and   

(2)     what constitutes acceptable evidence of eligibility for a diploma.