45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 11, SECTION 1 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSIONERS.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 11, Section 1 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:
"The "public regulation commission" is created. The
commission shall consist of five members [elected] appointed
by the governor with the consent of the senate from districts
provided by law for staggered [four-year] six-year terms
beginning on January 1 of the year following their [election]
appointment; provided that those [chosen at the first general
election] first appointed after the adoption of this section
shall immediately classify themselves by lot, so that two of
them shall hold office for two years, two of them for four
years and [three] two of them for [four] six years [and
further provided that, after serving two terms, members shall
be ineligible to hold office as a commission member until one
full term has intervened]. No more than three commissioners
may be members of the same political party. Commissioners
shall at minimum have experience that reasonably qualifies
them to deal with regulatory matters. Commissioners shall be
compensated as determined by law and may receive per diem and
mileage for travel from their districts to Santa Fe, where the
office of the public regulation commission shall be located.
No commissioner or candidate for the commission shall accept
anything of value from a person or entity whose charges for
services to the public are regulated by the commission."
Section 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date which may be called for that purpose.