AS TUITIONS KEEP RISING AT NEW MEXICO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, MORE STUDENTS WANT "IN" ON STATE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS. SENATE MINORITY WHIP BILL PAYNE IS SPONSORING A BILL TO SHORE UP FUNDS BEING DEPLETED BY HIGHER TUITIONS AND INCREASING APPLICANTS. HE'S RAISING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

PAYNE TELLS US STUDENTS AND ADVOCACY GROUPS SAY MOST STUDENTS DON'T GRADUATE IN 4 YEARS ... SO THE MEASURE GIVES THEM SIX YEARS TO GRADUATE ON A LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP OR THEY HAVE TO REPAY THE FIRST TWO SEMESTERS FUNDED BY THE SCHOLARSHIP.THEY'D ALSO HAVE TO MAINTAIN A 2-POINT-75 GPA INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT 2-POINT-5 ... EARN A MINIMUM SCORE ON THE A-C-T OR S-A-T.