SENATE BILL 39

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

INTRODUCED BY

Leonard Lee Rawson





FOR THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM STUDY COMMITTEE



AN ACT

RELATING TO COURTS; INCREASING THE NUMBER OF JUDGES AND COURT EMPLOYEES IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT; PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER DEPARTMENT AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AFFECTED BY THE ADDITIONAL JUDGE; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.



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

Section 1. Section 34-6-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 69, Section 9, as amended) is amended to read:

"34-6-6. JUDGES--THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT.--There shall be [six] seven district judges in the third judicial district."

Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--DISTRICT JUDGE--APPOINTMENT.--The additional district judge provided for in this act shall be filled by appointment by the governor pursuant to the provisions of Article 6 of the constitution of New Mexico.

Section 3. APPROPRIATIONS.--

A. The following amounts are appropriated from the general fund to the following agencies for expenditure in fiscal year 2004 for the following purposes in the third judicial district:

(1) two hundred ninety-three thousand two hundred ninety dollars ($293,290) to the third judicial district court for salaries and benefits and furniture, supplies and equipment for one additional judge and support staff;

(2) seven hundred five thousand dollars ($705,000) to the third judicial district court for salaries and benefits and furniture, supplies and equipment for fifteen additional court employees;

(3) seventy-eight thousand six hundred sixty-five dollars ($78,665) to the third judicial district attorney for salaries and benefits and furniture, supplies and equipment for additional staff due to increased district court workload; and

(4) one hundred five thousand five hundred thirty dollars ($105,530) to the public defender department for salaries and benefits and furniture, supplies and equipment for additional public defender attorneys and support staff and for costs of contract and conflict counsel due to increased district court workload.

B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining from any of the appropriations in this section at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2003.

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