FORTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE

FIRST SESSION, 2007

February 10, 2007

Mr. Speaker:

    Your APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL 126

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

     1. On page 1, line 15, after "2005" insert "; PROVIDING A FEE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION".

     2. On page 6, between lines 14 and 15, insert the following new section:

     "Section 2. Section 66-5-44 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 266, as amended) is amended to read:

     "66-5-44. LICENSES AND PERMITS--DURATION AND FEE--APPROPRIATION.--

          A. There shall be paid to the department a fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for each driver's license or duplicate driver's license, except that for a driver's license issued for an eight-year period, a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be paid to the department. Each license shall be for a term provided for in Section 66-5-21 NMSA 1978.

          B. For each permit and instruction permit, there shall be paid to the department a fee of two dollars ($2.00). The term for each permit shall be as provided in Sections 66-5-8 and 66-5-9 NMSA 1978.

          C. The director with the approval of the governor may increase the amount of the fees provided for in this section by an amount not to exceed three dollars ($3.00) for the purpose of implementing an enhanced driver's license system; provided that for a driver's license issued for an eight-year period, the amount of the fees shall be twice the amount charged for other driver's licenses. The additional amounts collected pursuant to this subsection are appropriated to the department to defray the expense of the new system of licensing.

          D. There shall be paid to the department a driver safety fee of three dollars ($3.00) for each driver's license or duplicate driver's license, except that for a driver's license issued for an eight-year period, a fee of six dollars ($6.00) shall be paid to the department. The fee shall be distributed to each school district for the purpose of providing defensive driving instruction through the state equalization guarantee distribution made annually pursuant to the general appropriation act.

          E. The department may charge a fee of no more than fifteen dollars ($15.00) to a person who holds a driver's license from another state and is applying for a New Mexico driver's license for the first time. The fee is appropriated to the department to defray the expense of determining whether the driver has been convicted of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, or equivalent crime, and determining if the person qualifies for a driver's license in this state. The fee provided in this section is not subject to the increase provided for in Subsection C of this section."".

     3. On page 7, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following new section:

     "Section 4. APPROPRIATION.--One million one hundred thousand dollars ($1,100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the taxation and revenue department for expenditure in fiscal year 2008 for expenses related to verifying qualifications for driver's licenses and issuing ignition interlock licenses. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general fund.".

     4. Renumber sections to correspond with these amendments.