RELATING TO COURTS; AUTHORIZING COMPENSATION FOR A RETIRED MAGISTRATE JUDGE WHO SERVES AS A MAGISTRATE JUDGE PRO TEMPORE; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978.

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

Section 1. Section 35-2-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1997, Chapter 114, Section 1) is amended to read:

"35-2-6. APPOINTMENT AS SPECIAL MASTER, ARBITRATOR OR MAGISTRATE JUDGE PRO TEMPORE--COMPENSATION.--

A. A chief district court judge may appoint a retired magistrate judge, with the retired judge's consent, to serve as a magistrate judge pro tempore, subject to the money available to the judge pro tempore fund.

B. The retired magistrate judge shall be:

(1) compensated for his services in an amount equal to the hourly salary paid to magistrate judges; and

(2) reimbursed for his expenses in accordance with the provisions of the Per Diem and Mileage Act that apply to nonsalaried public officers."

Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2001.