AN ACT

RELATING TO SPORTS; CREATING THE NEW MEXICO SPORTS AUTHORITY; PROVIDING POWERS AND DUTIES.

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

     Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "New Mexico Sports Authority Act".

     Section 2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the New Mexico Sports Authority Act:

          A. "authority" means the New Mexico sports authority;

          B. "department" means the tourism department; and

          C. "director" means the director of the authority.

     Section 3. AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP--TERMS--CO-CHAIRPERSONS--QUORUM--VOTING--COMPENSATION.--

          A. The "New Mexico sports authority" is created, consisting of twenty-five members of the public appointed by the governor and six ex-officio, voting members as follows:

                (1) the superintendent of regulation and licensing;

                (2) the secretary of economic development;

                (3) the secretary of tourism;

                (4) the secretary of taxation and revenue;

                (5) the chief counsel to the governor; and

                (6) the governor's deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs.

          B. An ex-officio member may designate in writing another person to attend meetings of the authority and to the same extent and with the same effect act in the ex-officio member's stead.

          C. Members shall be appointed for four-year terms and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The terms of the initial members of the authority shall expire on January 1, 2007. Members serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified. The governor may fill any vacancies on the authority for the remainder of an unexpired term.

          D. The authority shall have two co-chairpersons appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be an ex-officio member and one of whom shall be a public member. The authority may elect such other officers as it deems necessary to carry out its duties.

          E. A majority of the appointed members of the authority shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the authority. Authority members shall not vote by proxy.

          F. Public members of the authority shall receive per diem and mileage as provided for nonsalaried public officers in the Per Diem and Mileage Act and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.

     Section 4. ADMINISTRATIVELY ATTACHED AGENCY.--The authority is administratively attached to the department.

     Section 5. DUTIES OF THE AUTHORITY.--

          A. The authority shall:

                (1) develop an overall strategic plan for recruiting and retaining all forms of professional and amateur sporting events;

                (2) identify existing infrastructure for sporting activities, identify and propose future infrastructure and locations and identify opportunities for private and public partnerships on infrastructure;

                (3) foster relationships between sporting event organizers and event sponsors;

                (4) foster relationships among state and local agencies and provide advice and direction needed to increase the number and quality of sporting events held in New Mexico; and 

                (5) meet at the call of one of the co-chairpersons, but not less than quarterly.

          B. The authority may develop and recommend to the governor legislation and may adopt rules necessary to:

                (1) further the purpose of the authority;

                (2) provide additional professional and amateur sports participation by New Mexico citizens;

                (3) provide for the welfare of participants in sporting events;

                (4) provide for adequate safety measures for and ethical operation of sporting events;

                (5) recruit and maintain professional and amateur sporting events to be held in New Mexico; and

                (6) address the fiscal and tax implications of Paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subsection.

     Section 6. DIRECTOR--STAFF.--The governor shall appoint a director to serve as the administrative officer of the authority, and may appoint deputy directors and the general counsel of the authority. The director shall employ other staff, including deputy directors and general counsel, as necessary to carry out the duties of the authority. The director, deputy directors and general counsel shall be exempt from the provisions of the Personnel Act.

     Section 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the

provisions of this act is July 1, 2005.

HB 58

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