RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FEES; ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO COLLECT ACCESS FEES ON ITS LAW ENFORCEMENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS; CREATING A FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

Section 1. LAW ENFORCEMENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS--ACCESS FEES.--

A. During fiscal year 2001, the department of public safety may charge local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies and other users an access fee for the cost of providing access to the department's law enforcement telecommunications systems. During fiscal year 2001, the access fee shall be set by the secretary of public safety in an amount not to exceed the actual cost of providing access to the telecommunications systems.

B. During fiscal year 2001, the department of public safety shall meet with representatives of all users of the department's law enforcement telecommunications systems to develop a recommendation for the legislature's consideration concerning the amount of the access fee during fiscal year 2002 and subsequent fiscal years.

Section 2. FUND--CREATED--APPROPRIATION.--The "law enforcement telecommunications fund" is created in the state treasury for fiscal year 2001 only. Money received from law enforcement telecommunications systems access fees shall be deposited in the fund. Unexpended or unencumbered balances in the fund shall revert to the general fund at the end of any fiscal year. The department of public safety shall administer the fund, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to offset the expense of operating, maintaining and expanding its law enforcement telecommunications systems. Money in the fund shall be expended upon warrant drawn by the secretary of finance and administration on vouchers signed by the secretary of public safety or his authorized representative.

HB 6

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