SENATE BILL 475

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PROCESS FOR AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO; CREATING THE CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION COMMISSION; PROVIDING POWERS AND DUTIES.

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

     Section 1. CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION COMMISSION--APPOINTMENT--POWERS AND DUTIES.--

          A. The "constitutional revision commission" is created as an independent commission pursuant to Article 19, Section 1 of the constitution of New Mexico.

          B. A commission shall be appointed pursuant to this section when the legislature by joint resolution or the governor by certification has identified an issue that may need to be addressed by constitutional amendment.

          C. The commission shall consist of thirteen members appointed as follows: three members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, no more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party; three members appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate, no more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party; three members appointed by the governor, no more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party; and four members appointed by the other nine members. Members shall serve from the time of their appointment through the next regular session of the legislature.

          D. Public members of the commission shall receive per diem and mileage pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

          E. The legislative council service shall provide staff to the commission.

          F. Within thirty days after its appointment, the commission shall hold its first meeting, at which it shall elect a chair and such other officers as it deems necessary to perform its duties. Future meetings shall be held at the call of the chair.

          G. The commission shall:

                (1) conduct such research and further study as necessary to understand the issues identified pursuant to Subsection B of this section;

                (2) receive public comments concerning the issues;

                (3) determine whether the issues should be addressed by amendment to the constitution of New Mexico and, if so, draft proposed amendments; and

                (4) pursuant to Article 19, Section 1 of the constitution of New Mexico, submit the proposed amendments to the next regular session of the legislature.

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