AN ACT
RELATING TO LAND GRANTS; CREATING A
LAND GRANT COMMITTEE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF
THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. LAND GRANT
COMMITTEE--CREATION--TERMINATION.--The "land grant committee" is
created. The committee shall function
from the date of its appointment until December 1 prior to the second session
of the forty-sixth legislature.
Section 2. MEMBERSHIP--APPOINTMENT--VACANCIES.--The land
grant committee shall be composed of six members, two members appointed by the
president pro tempore of the senate, one member appointed by the senate
minority leader, two members appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives and one member appointed by the house minority leader. At the time of making the appointments, the
New Mexico legislative council shall designate the chair and vice chair of the
committee. Members shall be appointed to
give the two major political parties in each house the same proportionate
representation on the committee as prevails in each house; provided, however,
that in no event shall either of the parties have less than one member from
each house on the committee. Members may
be removed from the committee by the New Mexico legislative council at the
request of the committee chair for nonattendance according to council
policy. Vacancies on the committee,
however caused, may be filled by the New Mexico legislative council, or the
council may reduce the size of the committee by not making replacement
appointments and in that case need not readjust party representation. No action shall be taken by the committee if
a majority of the total membership from either house on the committee rejects
the action.
Section 3. DUTIES--REPORT.--
A. After its appointment, the land grant committee
shall hold one organizational meeting to develop a work plan, budget and
schedule of meetings 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 land grant committee shall:
(1) study existing law regarding land grants and
develop legislation to improve existing law;
(2) gather testimony from land grant heirs from
across New Mexico to acquire an understanding of the issues and concerns facing
them;
(3) gather testimony from other community groups
and state agencies to understand the relationship between land grant heirs and
other property owners in New Mexico; and
(4) work in conjunction with the Guadalupe
Hidalgo task force.
C. The committee shall report its findings and
recommendations for the consideration of the second session of the forty-sixth
legislature. The report and suggested
legislation shall be made available to the New Mexico legislative council on or
before December 15 preceding the session.
Section 4. STAFF.--The staff for the land grant
committee shall be provided by the legislative council service.
HB
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