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

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 12, SECTION 13 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO REQUIRE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS FOR THE BOARDS OF REGENTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY, NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY, WESTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY, EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY AND NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY.

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

Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 12, Section 13 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"The legislature shall provide for the control and management of [each of said institutions, except the university of New Mexico, by a board of regents for each institution, consisting of five members, four of whom shall be qualified electors of the state of New Mexico, one of whom shall be a member of the student body of the institution and no more than three of whom at the time of their appointment shall be members of the same political party; provided, however, that the student body member provision in this section shall not apply to] the New Mexico school for the deaf, the New Mexico military institute, the northern New Mexico state school [or] and the New Mexico school for the visually handicapped [and for each of those four institutions all five members of the board of regents shall be qualified electors of the state of New Mexico] by a board of regents for each institution, consisting of five members who are qualified electors of the state, no more than three of whom at the time of their appointment are members of the same political party. The governor shall nominate and by and with the consent of the senate shall appoint the members of each board of regents for each of said institutions. The terms of [said nonstudent] members shall be for six years, provided that of the five first appointed the terms of two shall be for two years, the terms for two shall be for four years, and the term of one shall be for six years. [Following the approval by the voters of this amendment and upon the first vacancy of a position held by a nonstudent member on each eligible institution's board of regents, the governor shall nominate and by and with the consent of the senate shall appoint a student member to serve a two-year term. The governor shall select, with the advice and consent of the senate, a student member from a list provided by the president of the institution. In making the list, the president of the institution shall give due consideration to the recommendations of the student body president of the institution.

The legislature shall provide for the control and management of the university of New Mexico by a board of regents consisting of seven members, six of whom shall be qualified electors of the state of New Mexico, one of whom shall be a member of the student body of the university of New Mexico and no more than four of whom at the time of their appointment shall be members of the same political party. The governor shall nominate and by and with the consent of the senate shall appoint the members of the board of regents. The present five members shall serve out their present terms. The two additional members shall be appointed in 1987 for terms of six years. Following the approval by the voters of this amendment and upon the first vacancy of a position held by a nonstudent member on the university of New Mexico's board of regents, the governor shall nominate and by and with the consent of the senate shall appoint a student member to serve a two-year term. The governor shall select, with the advice and consent of the senate, a student member from a list provided by the president of the university of New Mexico. In making the list, the president of the university of New Mexico shall give due consideration to the recommendations of the student body president of the university.] New Mexico state university, New Mexico highlands university, western New Mexico university, eastern New Mexico university and the New Mexico institute of mining and technology shall each be controlled and managed by an elected board of regents for each institution consisting of five members who are qualified electors of the state, one of whom shall be a member of the student body of the institution. The board position reserved for the student body member is for a two-year term of office. The remaining four board positions are for six-year terms of office. Board of regents elections shall be statewide elections held at the same time as statewide general elections and conducted as provided by law.

The university of New Mexico shall be controlled and managed by an elected board of regents consisting of seven members who are qualified electors of the state, one of whom shall be a member of the student body of the institution. The board position reserved for the student body member is for a two-year term of office. The remaining six board positions are for six-year terms of office. Board of regents elections shall be statewide elections held at the same time as statewide general elections and conducted as provided by law.

Members of the board shall not be removed except for incompetence, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. Provided, however, no removal shall be made without notice of hearing and an opportunity to be heard having first been given such member. The supreme court of the state of New Mexico is hereby given exclusive original jurisdiction over proceedings to remove members of the board under such rules as it may promulgate, and its decision in connection with such matters shall be final."

Section 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date which may be called for that purpose.