SENATE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL 737

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

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE; REQUIRING CONFERENCE COMMITTEES TO BE PUBLIC MEETINGS.

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

     Section 1. Section 10-15-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1974, Chapter 91, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "10-15-2. STATE LEGISLATURE--MEETINGS.--

          A. Unless otherwise provided by joint house and senate rule, all meetings of [a quorum of members of] any committee or policy-making body of the [state] legislature held for the purpose of discussing public business or for the purpose of taking any action within the authority of or the delegated authority of [such] the committee or body are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times. Reasonable notice of meetings shall be given to the public by publication or by the presiding officer of each house prior to the time the meeting is scheduled.

          B. The provisions of Subsection A of this section [shall] do not apply to matters relating to personnel or matters adjudicatory in nature [or any bill, resolution or other legislative matter not yet presented to either house of the legislature or general appropriation bills] or to investigative or quasi-judicial proceedings relating to ethics and conduct or to a caucus of a political party.

          C. For the purposes of this section, "meeting" means a gathering of a quorum of the members [called by the presiding officer] of a standing committee or conference committee held for the purpose of taking any action within the authority of the committee or body."

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