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

RELATING TO COURTS; CREATING AN ADDITIONAL JUDGESHIP IN THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT; PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.

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

Section 1. Section 34-6-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 69, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:

"34-6-9. JUDGES--SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT.--There shall be [two] three district judges in the sixth judicial district. The judge of division [1] one shall reside and maintain his principal office in Grant county."

Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--DISTRICT JUDGESHIP--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 for a term beginning July 1, 2003.

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 sixth judicial district:

(1) two hundred seventy-one thousand four hundred dollars ($271,400) to the sixth judicial district court to provide salaries and benefits and furniture, supplies and equipment for one additional judge and support staff;

(2) one hundred fifty-one thousand dollars ($151,000) to the sixth judicial district attorney to provide salaries and benefits and furniture, supplies and equipment for additional staff due to increased district court workload; and

(3) fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) to the public defender department to pay 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.