HOUSE BILL 188

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Henry 'Kiki' Saavedra

ENDORSED BY THE COURTS, CORRECTIONS AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO COURTS; CREATING AN ADDITIONAL JUDGESHIP IN THE EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 34-6-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 69, Section 14, as amended) is amended to read:

     "34-6-11. JUDGES--EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT.--There shall be [two] three district judges in the eighth judicial district [serving divisions one and two]. One of the judges shall maintain [his] the judge's principal office in Colfax or Union county and the other [judge] two judges shall maintain [his] their principal [office] offices in Taos county. [The chief judge of the eighth judicial shall be selected by a majority of the district judges in that district. In the event of a tie, the senior judge shall be the chief judge.]"

     SECTION 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--DISTRICT JUDGE--

APPOINTMENT.--The additional district judgeship 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. APPROPRIATION.--Four hundred twenty-three thousand eighty-seven dollars ($423,087) is appropriated from the general fund to the eighth judicial district for expenditure in fiscal year 2012 for salaries and benefits and furniture, supplies and equipment for one additional district judge and support staff. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2012 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2011.

- 2 -