A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the New Mexico school for the deaf shall be devoted exclusively to the care and instruction of persons of either sex who are residents within the state and between the ages of five years and the age of majority and who are deaf or hard-of-hearing; provided that the board of regents, in its discretion, may admit residents of this state who have attained the age of one year for daytime care and instruction, but not for residential purposes, and may also admit residents of this state who are over the age of majority.

B. The board of regents may make expenditures for undergraduate collegiate expenses of graduates of the New Mexico school for the deaf. The board of regents may permit the use of facilities of the school by public and private agencies in the state in carrying on a conservation-of-hearing program when the agencies participate in the cost of the operation, upon such terms and conditions as the board of regents may prescribe.

C. The board of regents may contract with the veterans’ administration and the vocational rehabilitation division of the public education department to provide instruction for adults with a disability in vocations or lip reading taught at the school, but such adults may not be housed at the school. The board of regents may lease for a nominal sum for periods not to exceed three months to the public schools, institutions and agencies of the state any hearing test equipment owned by the school.

D. The board of regents, for the purpose of creating a source of teachers of the deaf, may pay tuition and other necessary expenses of graduates of New Mexico colleges desiring to take training to teach the deaf in out-of-state training centers and intending to make the teaching of the deaf in New Mexico their profession.

E. All instruction shall be free. Deaf or hard-of-hearing children from other states or territories may be received and educated in the school under such rules and regulations as the board of regents may prescribe, but in no event shall such children be admitted except upon the payment or guaranty of at least one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the school year, on the basis of nine months for a school year. The president of the board of regents is authorized to make and enter into on behalf of the school all necessary agreements and contracts with the United States government and the proper authorities of other states and territories for the reception and education of such children, and the president is further authorized to receive and receipt for all money paid upon such account and to endorse and transfer all checks, vouchers or other evidences of payment made or received in behalf of the school.