SB0060

SENATE BILL 60

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Nancy Rodriguez

AN ACT

RELATING TO EXECUTIVE REORGANIZATION; CREATING THE OFFICE OF PEACEBUILDING; CREATING THE CITIZENS PEACEBUILDING ADVISORY COUNCIL; PROVIDING POWERS AND DUTIES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Office of Peacebuilding Act".

SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] PURPOSE.--The purpose of the Office of Peacebuilding Act is to establish an office dedicated to building a culture of peace that, among other functions: provides training to facilitate conflict prevention and nonviolent conflict management and resolution; studies conditions conducive to developing a culture of peace; and implements at all educational levels appropriate curricula for promoting a culture of peace.

SECTION 3. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Office of Peacebuilding Act:

A. "council" means the citizens peacebuilding advisory council;

B. "dialogue process" means a facilitated process in which people talk and listen to each other in turn to allow an exchange of diverse ideas, information, opinions and experiences to foster greater understanding among people;

C. "director" means the director of the office of peacebuilding;

D. "office" means the office of peacebuilding; and

E. "restorative justice" means a facilitated process that allows everyone involved in a conflict to be heard, to acknowledge responsibility for harm caused, to seek ways to repair the harm and to restore relationships and community.

SECTION 4. [NEW MATERIAL] OFFICE ESTABLISHED.--The "office of peacebuilding" is created. The office is attached to the department of finance and administration for administrative purposes only, in accordance with Section 9-1-7 NMSA 1978.

SECTION 5. [NEW MATERIAL] DIRECTOR--APPOINTMENT.--

A. The administrative head of the office is the "director of the office of peacebuilding", whom the governor shall appoint with the consent of the senate.

B. The director shall be an administrator who has shown successful administrative experience and has at least eighty hours of training in alternative dispute resolution, mediation, dialogue or restorative justice and at least two years of experience in applying those skills in a community setting or have equivalent life experience.

C. The director shall serve and have all the powers and duties of the office during the time before final action by the senate confirming or rejecting the appointment.

SECTION 6. [NEW MATERIAL] DIRECTOR--POWERS--DUTIES.--

A. The director may:

(1) make peace education grants for the creation and expansion of peace studies programs and practice at all educational levels;

(2) make grants to nonviolent communication and nonviolent conflict resolution programs and local nongovernmental peace-building initiatives;

(3) employ professional and clerical assistants, contractors and general counsel as necessary, oversee staff performance and set priorities according to time and budget constraints; and

(4) accept grants and gifts on behalf of the office.

B. The director shall:

(1) be responsible to the governor for the office's operation;

(2) manage the office's operation;

(3) apply the office's resources and skills statewide to:

(a) conflict prevention, management and resolution;

(b) publicly educate on peace and nonviolence;

(d) develop peace education curricula at all levels of instruction, including curricula for use by educators in classrooms and in restorative justice programs;

(4) help integrate the peace education curricula into the training programs for new and experienced teachers and recommend peace studies courses as part of teacher education in New Mexico;

(5) in coordination with governmental and nongovernmental organizations, analyze and expand existing peace-building policies and programs and develop new approaches to and encourage innovation in peace-building efforts, including the efforts of alternative dispute resolution centers, statewide peace studies programs, statewide peace and justice centers, public school peer mediation, dialogue and restorative justice programs and juvenile court programs; and

(6) gather information on effective community peace-building activities and disseminate the information by:

(a) sponsoring and organizing conferences;

(b) creating awareness of the office's activities;

(d) exploring the meaning and practice of peace and nonviolence in the lives of New Mexicans.

SECTION 7. [NEW MATERIAL] COUNCIL--CREATION--MEMBERS--RESPONSIBILITIES.--

A. The "citizens peacebuilding advisory council" is created and is composed of the director and appointed members who reflect a concern for environmental integrity, the creative imagination of the arts and New Mexicans' cultural, gender, economic, geographic and political diversity. Members are appointed as follows:

(1) two representatives from established state or local peace advocacy organizations, appointed by the director;

(2) one representative from the New Mexico faith community, appointed by the director;

(3) one representative from a local, county or state law enforcement agency who has specialized in violence prevention, appointed by the secretary of public safety;

(4) one health professional with expertise in behavioral and public health issues, appointed by the secretary of health;

(5) one representative from the New Mexico mediation association, appointed by that organization's body;

(6) one veteran who has served in an armed conflict, appointed by the secretary of veterans' services;

(7) one public school educator with knowledge of peace curriculum development, appointed by the secretary of public education;

(8) one representative of the university of New Mexico's peace studies program, appointed by that program's body;

(9) one youth representative, between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four years, appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(10) one member appointed by the secretary of Indian affairs.

B. The term of service of an appointed council member is four years; however, the initial terms shall be staggered so that six members selected by random drawing serve for two years and five members serve a full term. A member of the council shall serve two terms at most. If a vacancy on the council arises, the original appointing authority shall appoint a replacement member to serve the remainder of the term.

C. The council shall select a chair, a vice chair and other officers as it deems necessary.

D. The council shall meet at least twice annually and may meet more frequently upon the call of the chair. The council shall:

(1) use the dialogue process in its interactions with each other and the staff;

(2) provide assistance and make recommendations to the director and the governor on peace-related policies and practices;

(3) annually, assess peace-related activities in the state and submit a report to the director and the governor reviewing the effects of state peace activities on governmental entities and communities; and

(4) publicize its meetings and allot time to receive and report public input at regular council meetings, thereby maintaining a grassroots connection with New Mexicans.

E. As compensation for their service, council members may receive only per diem and mileage in accordance with the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

F. The office shall provide for its own space and for the space and administrative needs of the council.

SECTION 8. APPROPRIATION.--Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office of peacebuilding for expenditure in fiscal year 2017 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the Office of Peacebuilding Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2016.

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