High school diplomas; Vietnam conflict veterans.

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Public School Code, a local school board may issue a high school diploma to a Vietnam conflict 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 February 28, 1961 and before May 7, 1975; (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 the Vietnam conflict. B. A local school board may issue a high school diploma to a qualifying Vietnam conflict veteran regardless of whether the veteran holds a high school equivalency credential or is deceased. C. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of this section, including: (1) an application form to be submitted to the local school board by the Vietnam conflict 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.