HOUSE BILL 180

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Benjamin H. Rodefer

AN ACT

RELATING TO MUNICIPALITIES; INCREASING THE POPULATION THRESHOLD FOR MANDATORY DISTRICTING FOR MUNICIPAL GOVERNING BODIES.

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

     Section 1. Section 3-12-1.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1985, Chapter 203, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

     "3-12-1.1. ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF GOVERNING BODIES-- REQUIRING RESIDENCY.--[Except as provided in Section 3-12-2 NMSA 1978] Members of governing bodies, excluding mayors, of municipalities having a population in excess of [ten] twenty-five thousand shall reside in and be elected from single-member districts. If any member of the governing body permanently removes [his] the member's residence from or maintains no residence in the district from which [he] the member was elected, [he] the member shall be deemed to have resigned. [Once] In addition to the redistricting provided for in Section 3-12-2 NMSA 1978, following every federal decennial census the governing body of the municipality shall divide the municipality into a number of districts equal to the number of members on the governing body. Such districts shall be compact and contiguous and composed of populations as nearly equal as practicable; provided that the governing body of H class counties and of any municipality having a population of [ten] twenty-five thousand or less may provide for single-member districts as provided in this section."

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