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

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 11, SECTION 1 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSIONERS.

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

Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 11, Section 1 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"The "public regulation commission" is created. The commission shall consist of five members [elected] appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate from districts provided by law for staggered [four-year] six-year terms beginning on January 1 of the year following their [election] appointment; provided that those [chosen at the first general election] first appointed after the adoption of this section shall immediately classify themselves by lot, so that two of them shall hold office for two years, two of them for four years and [three] two of them for [four] six years [and further provided that, after serving two terms, members shall be ineligible to hold office as a commission member until one full term has intervened]. No more than three commissioners may be members of the same political party. Commissioners shall at minimum have experience that reasonably qualifies them to deal with regulatory matters. Commissioners shall be compensated as determined by law and may receive per diem and mileage for travel from their districts to Santa Fe, where the office of the public regulation commission shall be located. No commissioner or candidate for the commission shall accept anything of value from a person or entity whose charges for services to the public are regulated by the commission."

Section 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date which may be called for that purpose.