44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE REGULATION; PROVIDING FOR EXCUSAL OR RECUSAL OF HEARING OFFICERS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

Section 1. A new section of the Liquor Control Act is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS--EXCUSAL OR RECUSAL OF DIRECTOR OR HEARING OFFICER.--

A. A party to an administrative hearing may file a notice of excusal with the department. Upon receipt by the department of a notice of excusal the jurisdiction of the hearing officer or the director, in his capacity as a hearing officer, terminates immediately. No party may excuse more than one hearing officer. The notice of excusal shall be filed after notice is received by the party of a hearing but at least three days prior to the date on which the hearing is scheduled. A notice of excusal may be filed at the time of a preliminary hearing.

B. The director or a hearing officer shall recuse himself in an administrative hearing in which he is unable to make a fair and impartial decision or in which there is a reasonable doubt about whether he can make a fair and impartial decision, including:

(1) when the director or hearing officer has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or its representative or has prejudged a disputed evidentiary fact involved in a proceeding prior to hearing. For the purposes of this section, "personal bias or prejudice" means a predisposition toward a person based on a previous or ongoing relationship, including a professional, personal, familial or other intimate relationship, that may sway judgment and render the hearing officer unable to exercise his functions impartially;

(2) when he has a pecuniary interest in the outcome of the proceeding other than as a customer of a party; or

(3) when in previous employment he served as an attorney, adviser, consultant or witness in the matter in controversy.

C. If the director or a hearing officer fails to recuse himself and it appears that grounds exist, a party shall promptly notify the director or hearing officer of the apparent grounds for recusal. If the director or hearing officer declines to recuse himself upon request of a party, he shall provide full disclosure on the record of all facts in support of his refusal to recuse himself. The party may appeal the decision of the director or the hearing officer to the attorney general who shall review the apparent grounds for recusal and attendant evidence submitted by the party and the facts in support of the director's or hearing officer's refusal to recuse himself and render a decision in writing regarding the recusal of the director or hearing officer."

Section 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.