45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

RELATING TO THE JUDICIAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT; PROVIDING FOR A CONSOLIDATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL CONSOLIDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS IN DONA ANA COUNTY; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

Section 1. CONSOLIDATION STUDY COMMITTEE--COMPOSITION--DUTIES--APPROPRIATION.--

A. With the approval and direction of the supreme court, the administrative office of the courts shall create a "consolidation study committee" to study the potential consolidation of the magistrate and municipal courts in Dona Ana county. The committee shall consist of seventeen members as follows:

(1) a district judge from the third judicial district, appointed by the chief judge of the district;

(2) two Dona Ana county magistrate judges, appointed by the director of the administrative office of the courts;

(3) a municipal judge from the city of Las Cruces, appointed by the director of the administrative office of the courts;

(4) three attorneys who commonly practice in the Dona Ana county magistrate court or the city of Las Cruces municipal court, appointed by the third judicial district bar association;

(5) one public member appointed by the mayor of the city of Las Cruces;

(6) one public member appointed by the city council of the city of Las Cruces;

(7) one public member appointed by the board of county commissioners for Dona Ana county;

(8) two administrative personnel from the Dona Ana county magistrate court, appointed by the magistrates;

(9) two administrative personnel from the city of Las Cruces municipal court, appointed by the municipal judges;

(10) a designee of the director of the administrative office of the courts;

(11) a member of the city of Las Cruces administration, appointed by the mayor; and

(12) a member of the city council of the city of Las Cruces, appointed by the city council.

B. The committee shall elect a chairman and such other officers as it deems necessary. The committee shall meet at the call of the chairman but no less than once per month. The committee may contract with a part-time individual to assist the committee with its administrative functions.

C. Committee members shall not be paid but may be reimbursed for per diem and mileage pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

D. The committee shall investigate and evaluate the effectiveness and judicial efficiency of community-based judicial systems in other areas and determine the feasibility of creating a consolidated system in the Dona Ana county court system. The committee shall report its findings and recommendation to the city council, the board of county commissioners and the legislature by December 1, 2001.

E. Sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the administrative office of the courts for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 for carrying out the provisions of this section. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.