SENATE BILL 476

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Michael Padilla

AN ACT

RELATING TO CAPITAL EXPENDITURES; PROVIDING FOR THE PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION OF SOLAR ENERGY PANELS FOR PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS; CREATING THE SOLAR ENERGY PANELS FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SOLAR ENERGY PANELS--PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS--SOLAR ENERGY PANELS FUND.--

          A. The public school capital outlay council shall develop a plan to purchase and install solar energy panels on public elementary school buildings in the state. The plan shall designate public elementary schools eligible to receive solar energy panels based on school size from largest to smallest.

          B. In fiscal years 2018 through 2021, the public school facilities authority shall procure services to install solar energy panels on public elementary school buildings in accordance with the plan developed by the public school capital outlay council. The authority shall, to the extent allowed by law, procure services from contractors certified as resident contractors in accordance with Section 13-1-22 NMSA 1978.

          C. The "solar energy panels fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations to the fund and any other revenues directed to the fund, such as gifts, donations and grants. All income earned from investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund. The fund shall be administered by the public school facilities authority, and expenditures may be made from the fund upon vouchers signed by the director of the authority and warrants issued by the secretary of finance and administration to procure services to install solar energy panels on public elementary school buildings. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance in the fund shall revert to the general fund at the end of fiscal year 2021.

          D. As used in this section, "public elementary school" means a public school providing instruction for grades kindergarten through eight, unless there is a junior high school program approved by the public education department, in which case it means a public school providing instruction for grades kindergarten through six.