RELATING TO RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO; ESTABLISHING THE MEXICAN AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE; ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF MEXICAN AFFAIRS; PROVIDING DUTIES; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.

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

Section 1. MEXICAN AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CREATED--TERMINATION.--There is created a joint interim legislative committee that shall be known as the "Mexican affairs oversight committee". The committee shall function from the date of its appointment until the first day of December prior to the first session of the forty-ninth legislature.

Section 2. MEMBERSHIP--APPOINTMENT--VACANCIES.--

A. The Mexican affairs oversight committee shall be composed of ten members. Five members of the house of representatives shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. Five members of the senate shall be appointed by the senate committees' committee or, if the senate appointments are made in the interim, by the president pro tempore of the senate after consultation with and agreement of a majority of the members of the senate committees' committee.

B. Members shall be appointed from each house so as to give the two major political parties in each house the same equal representation on the Mexican affairs oversight committee as prevails in each house. However, in no event shall either party have less than one member from each house on the committee. The speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate shall each appoint a co-chairman of the committee.

C. A vacancy on the Mexican affairs oversight committee shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the original appointment.

D. No action shall be taken by the Mexican affairs oversight committee if a majority of the total membership from either house on the committee rejects the action.

Section 3. DUTIES--COOPERATION.--

A. After its appointment, the Mexican affairs oversight committee shall hold one organizational meeting to develop a work plan and budget for the ensuing interim. The work plan and budget shall be submitted to the New Mexico legislative council for approval.

B. Upon approval of the work plan and budget by the New Mexico legislative council, the Mexican affairs oversight committee shall:

(1) oversee all aspects of the state's relations with the Republic of Mexico and the state of Chihuahua;

(2) hold hearings to ensure that all activities of the New Mexico border commission, the border authority, the joint border research institute at New Mexico state university, the economic development department, the tourism department and other agencies that pertain to the Republic of Mexico and the state of Chihuahua are conducted in such a manner that economic, political, cultural and infrastructure issues are coordinated;

(3) establish relations with legislative agencies and committees in the state of Chihuahua in order to identify and resolve common issues; and

(4) recommend legislation or changes, if they are found to be necessary, to the legislature.

C. The New Mexico border commission, the border authority, the joint border research institute at New Mexico state university, the economic development department, the tourism department and every other state agency and political subdivision of the state shall, upon request, furnish and make available to the Mexican affairs oversight committee documents, material or information requested by the members of the committee or its staff.

Section 4. SUBCOMMITTEES.--

A. Subcommittees shall be created only by majority vote of all members appointed to the Mexican affairs oversight committee and with the prior approval of the New Mexico legislative council. A subcommittee shall be composed of at least one member from the senate and one member from the house of representatives, and at least one member of the minority party shall be a member of the subcommittee.

B. All meetings and expenditures of a subcommittee shall be approved by the full Mexican affairs oversight committee in advance of subcommittee meetings or expenditures, and the approval shall be shown in the minutes of the committee.

Section 5. REPORT.--By December 15 of each year, the Mexican affairs oversight committee shall make a report of its findings and recommendations for the consideration of the legislature.

Section 6. STAFF.--The staff for the Mexican affairs oversight committee shall be provided by the legislative council service. The legislative council service may also contract for staff services for the Mexican affairs oversight committee.

Section 7. OFFICE OF MEXICAN AFFAIRS--DUTIES.--

A. The "office of Mexican affairs" is created. The office shall consist of a director, appointed by the governor, and such other clerical and technical personnel as are necessary, within available appropriations, to perform the duties of the office. The office is administratively attached to the office of the governor.

B. The office of Mexican affairs shall:

(1) be the executive agency responsible for conducting the state's relations with the republic of Mexico and the state of Chihuahua; and

(2) to the extent necessary to ensure that common economic, political, cultural and infrastructure issues with the republic of Mexico and the state of Chihuahua are coordinated, direct the activities of the New Mexico border commission, the border authority, the joint border research institute at New Mexico state university, the economic development department, the tourism department, the state highway and transportation department, the department of health and the department of public safety.

Section 8. APPROPRIATIONS.--

A. Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative council service for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 for the operation and staffing of the Mexican affairs oversight committee. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.

B. Three hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($325,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office of Mexican affairs for expenditure in fiscal year 2002 for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.

Section 9. DELAYED REPEAL.--Sections 1 through 6 of this act are repealed on July 1, 2004.

HB 740

Page 6