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

RELATING TO ITALIAN AMERICANS; CREATING AN OFFICE OF ITALIAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS; PRESCRIBING POWERS AND DUTIES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Italian American Affairs Act".

Section 2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Italian American Affairs Act:

A. "fund" means the office on Italian American affairs fund; and

B. "office" means the office on Italian American affairs.

Section 3. OFFICE CREATED--POWERS AND DUTIES.--

A. The "office on Italian American affairs" is created and attached administratively to the human services department.

B. The governor shall appoint a director, who shall work at the pleasure of the governor. The director shall employ other necessary employees, who shall be subject to the provisions of the Personnel Act.

C. The office shall:

(1) study issues important to Italian Americans, including history and culture; education, scholarships and other financial assistance for education and career development; economic and social problems and issues such as jobs, housing, discrimination, family support, youth idleness and crime; and health care, maternal and child health, teen pregnancy, access and other health issues;

(2) secure recognition of Italian Americans' accomplishments and contributions to New Mexico and the United States;

(3) cooperate with and assist public and private entities dealing with issues important to Italian Americans;

(4) direct the operations of the office;

(5) where appropriate, conduct periodic conferences throughout the state to inform Italian Americans of the opportunities available to them through state and private sources, to encourage them to share their history and culture with other New Mexicans and participate in the social and political processes of their communities and to learn from conference participants their needs and problems; and

(6) otherwise act as an advocate for Italian American citizens of New Mexico.

D. Additionally, the office shall:

(1) act as a clearinghouse for information important to the Italian American community;

(2) function as the coordinating office for all services and activities of state agencies and programs pertaining to Italian Americans;

(3) encourage funding and implementation of training programs and other opportunities for Italian Americans;

(4) promote and develop programs about community resources designed to meet the needs of Italian Americans;

(5) prepare and submit a budget for the office; and

(6) publish an annual report on the activities and services of the office.

E. The office may:

(1) adopt and promulgate rules in accordance with the State Rules Act to carry out the duties of the office;

(2) accept gifts, grants, donations, bequests and devises from any source to be used to carry out its duties; and

(3) enter into contracts.

Section 4. FUND CREATED--ADMINISTRATION.--The "office on Italian American affairs fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of gifts, grants, donations and bequests. Money in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert. The fund shall be administered by the office, and disbursements from the fund shall be made on warrant drawn by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the director of the office or his authorized representative.

Section 5. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office on Italian American affairs fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the provisions of the Italian American Affairs Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

Section 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2001.