44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

CREATING A JOINT INTERIM LEGISLATIVE LAND GRANT COMMITTEE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

Section 1. LAND GRANT COMMITTEE CREATED.--

TERMINATION.--The "land grant committee" is created as a joint interim legislative committee. The committee shall function from the date of its appointment until the first day of December prior to the first session of the forty-fifth legislature.

Section 2. MEMBERSHIP--APPOINTMENT--VACANCIES.--

A. The land grant committee shall be composed of eight members. The New Mexico legislative council shall appoint four members from the house of representatives and four members from the senate. At the time of making the appointment, the legislative council shall designate the chairman and vice chairman of the committee.

B. Members shall be appointed from each house so as to give the two major political parties in each house the same proportionate representation on the committee as prevails in each house; however, in no event shall either party have less than one member from each house on the committee. At the request of the committee chairman, members may be removed from the committee by the New Mexico legislative council for nonattendance according to council policy. Vacancies on the committee, however caused, may be filled by the legislative council, or the council may reduce the size of the committee by not making replacement appointments and in such case need not readjust party representation.

C. No action shall be taken by the committee if a majority of the total membership from either house on the committee rejects such action.

Section 3. DUTIES.--After its appointment, the land grant committee shall hold one organizational meeting to develop a work plan and budget for the ensuing interim. The work plan and budget shall be submitted to the New Mexico legislative council for approval. Upon approval of the work plan and budget by the legislative council, the committee shall:

A. examine the statutes, constitutional provisions, regulations and court decisions governing land grants in New Mexico;

B. gather testimony from land grant heirs from across New Mexico to acquire an understanding of the issues and concerns facing them; and

C. gather testimony from other community groups and state agencies to understand the relationship between land grant heirs and other property owners in New Mexico.

Section 4. SUBCOMMITTEES.--Subcommittees shall be created only by majority vote of all members appointed to the land grant committee and with the prior approval of the New Mexico legislative council. A subcommittee shall be composed of at least one member from the senate and one member from the house of representatives, and at least one member of the minority party shall be a member of the subcommittee. All meetings and expenditures of a subcommittee shall be approved by the full committee in advance of such meeting or expenditure, and the approval shall be shown in the minutes of the committee.

Section 5. REPORT.--The land grant committee shall make a report of its findings and legislative recommendations for the consideration of the first session of the forty-fifth legislature. The report and suggested legislation shall be made available to the New Mexico legislative council on or before December 15 preceding that session.

Section 6. STAFF.--The staff for the land grant committee shall be provided by the legislative council service.

Section 7. APPROPRIATION.--Twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative council service for expenditure in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 for the purpose of paying the salaries and expenses of the technical, legal, clerical and stenographic assistants, for necessary equipment and supplies used in carrying out the provisions of this act and for reimbursing the per diem and mileage expenses of the land grant committee. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2001 shall revert to the general fund. Payments from the appropriation shall be made upon vouchers signed by the director of the legislative council service or his authorized representative.

Section 8. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.