HOUSE BILL 1

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first special session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Sheryl Williams Stapleton

AN ACT

RELATING TO GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FROM LEGISLATIVE CASH BALANCES FOR NECESSARY EXPENSES OF THE FIRST SPECIAL SESSION OF THE FIFTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR NECESSARY EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCH EXPENSES RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF CANNABIS-RELATED LEGISLATION.

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

     SECTION 1. SPECIAL SESSION--APPROPRIATION.--

          A. The following amounts are appropriated from legislative cash balances for expenditure in fiscal year 2021 for the following expenses of the first special session of the fifty-fifth legislature:

                (1) for the expense of the house of representatives, ninety-five thousand seven hundred dollars ($95,700) to be disbursed on vouchers signed by the speaker and the chief clerk of the house of representatives or the chief clerk's designee;

                (2) for the expense of the senate, eighty-seven thousand one hundred dollars ($87,100) to be disbursed on vouchers signed by the chair of the committees' committee and the chief clerk of the senate or the chief clerk's designee; and

                (3) for the expense of the legislative council service, sixty thousand six hundred dollars ($60,600) to be disbursed on vouchers signed by the director of the legislative council service or the director's designee.

          B. Following adjournment of the first special session of the fifty-fifth legislature, expenditures authorized in this section shall be disbursed on vouchers signed by the director of the legislative council service or the director's designee.

     SECTION 2. EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCH CANNABIS-RELATED LEGISLATION--APPROPRIATIONS.--

          A. The following amounts are appropriated from the general fund for expenditure in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 contingent on the enactment of legislation passed during the first special session of the fifty-fifth legislature to enact the Cannabis Regulation Act:

                (1) one million seven hundred thousand dollars ($1,700,000) to the regulation and licensing department to administer the Cannabis Regulation Act; and

                (2) seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) to the department of public safety for drug recognition expert field certification for law enforcement officers in the state and to develop or purchase roadside impairment tests that are validated for testing cannabis impairment.

          B. Four million dollars ($4,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the taxation and revenue department for expenditure in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 to implement the Cannabis Tax Act. The appropriation provided pursuant to this subsection is contingent on enactment of legislation passed during the first special session of the fifty-fifth legislature to enact the Cannabis Tax Act.

          C. Five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the administrative office of the courts for expenditure in fiscal years 2021 and 2022 to address expungement of arrest and conviction records for certain cannabis-related offenses. The appropriation provided pursuant to this subsection is contingent on enactment of legislation passed during the first special session of the fifty-fifth legislature to provide for expungement of arrest and conviction records for certain cannabis-related offenses.

          D. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2022 from an appropriation made pursuant to this section shall revert to the general fund.

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