45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

RELATING TO COURTS; PROVIDING FOR AN ADDITIONAL MAGISTRATE IN THE GUADALUPE MAGISTRATE DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT AND ELECTION; PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 35-1-13 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 15, as amended) is amended to read:

"35-1-13. MAGISTRATE COURT--GUADALUPE DISTRICT.--There shall be [one magistrate] two magistrates in Guadalupe magistrate district whose principal court is in Santa Rosa. The [magistrate shall ride] magistrates shall rotate riding circuit to Vaughn on a regularly scheduled basis."

Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--GUADALUPE MAGISTRATE--APPOINTMENT AND ELECTION.--The additional magistrate in the Guadalupe magistrate district shall be filled by appointment by the governor. The appointed magistrate shall begin serving on July 1, 2001 and shall serve until succeeded by a magistrate elected at the general election in 2002. The elected magistrate's term of office shall begin on January 1, 2003.

Section 3. APPROPRIATIONS.--

A. The following amounts are appropriated from the general fund to the following agencies for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 for costs associated with an additional magistrate in the Guadalupe magistrate district:

(1) ninety-four thousand dollars ($94,000) to the administrative office of the courts to provide a salary and benefits, supplies, furniture and office equipment for an additional magistrate in the Guadalupe magistrate district;

(2) seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) to the fourth judicial district attorney for additional staff due to the increased workload in the Guadalupe magistrate district; and

(3) eighty-seven thousand dollars ($87,000) to the public defender department for additional staff due to the increased workload in the Guadalupe magistrate district.

B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining from any of the appropriations in this section at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.

Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2001.