SENATE BILL 231

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

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

FOR THE WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; CREATING THE UTTON TRANSBOUNDARY RESOURCES CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO; CREATING THE JOE M STELL WATER OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM WITHIN THE UTTON TRANSBOUNDARY RESOURCES CENTER.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 21, Article 7 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] UTTON TRANSBOUNDARY RESOURCES CENTER--JOE M STELL OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM.--

          A. The "Utton transboundary resources center" is created at the university of New Mexico school of law.

          B. The purposes of the center are to:

                (1) promote policies for the equitable and sustainable management of water and other transboundary natural resources and reduce conflict over the use of those resources;

                (2) provide information, expertise, research and education to the public and the legal community about water-related policies and legal issues, including the water rights adjudication process; and

                (3) coordinate with the university of New Mexico school of law and other academic institutions and programs in providing its services.

          C. The "Joe M Stell water ombudsman program" is created within the Utton transboundary resources center. The program shall provide unrepresented parties in water rights adjudications with informational and educational assistance regarding the adjudication process.

          D. The center may receive appropriations from the legislature through the board of regents of the university of New Mexico and may receive gifts, grants, donations and other support from public or private sources.

          E. The center may operate as part of or in conjunction with other programs, centers or institutes established by the university of New Mexico school of law."

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