unfunded mandate

The Journal reported;

"New Mexico S.B. 561, signed into law earlier this year, requires all public school districts to test workplace readiness of its 11th-graders in math, reading and locating information beginning next fall.

The bill provided no money for districts to cover the costs."

Do legislators not understand what it means, to mandate something and then not appropriate the necessary resources?


(The more optimistic and politically active among readers might want to contact their legislator and ask them to fund this worthwhile and useful testing.)