AN ACT

RELATING TO FORT STANTON; CREATING THE FORT STANTON DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION; PROVIDING FOR DUTIES AND POWERS; CREATING THE FORT STANTON DEVELOPMENT FUND.

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

Section 1. FORT STANTON DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION--CREATED.--

A. There is created the "Fort Stanton development commission", which shall be administratively attached to the office of cultural affairs.

B. The commission shall consist of seven members selected as follows:

(1) the chair of the Lincoln county commission or the designee of the chair;

(2) the mayor of the village of Ruidoso or the designee of the mayor;

(3) the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources or the designee of the secretary;

(4) the state historic preservation officer or the designee of the officer; and

(5) three members at large who are residents of Lincoln county and are appointed by the governor.

C. The chairman of the commission shall be elected annually from among the commission membership.

D. Appointed members shall serve for terms of six years each but the initial appointment shall be for two, four and six years to accomplish staggered terms. Vacancies in an appointed member's seat shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment was made.

E. Appointed members shall receive no compensation but may be paid per diem and mileage as provided for nonsalaried officers in the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

Section 2. DUTIES AND POWERS.--

A. The Fort Stanton development commission shall:

(1) plan, assemble, dispose of and acquire furnishings, art, landscaping materials and plants and other decorations for the public areas of Fort Stanton;

(2) monitor and report on the status of maintenance of Fort Stanton and recommend to the legislature actions necessary to repair, maintain and renovate the grounds and improvements; and

(3) develop statewide interest in Fort Stanton and develop a comprehensive plan for the most appropriate and beneficial use of Fort Stanton.

B. The commission may:

(1) utilize the assistance of individuals, the office of cultural affairs, other state agencies and nonprofit charitable corporations in carrying out its duties;

(2) accept on behalf of the state from any private or other public sources money, gifts, donations and bequests for use by the commission in carrying out its duties; and

(3) enter into public promotions of its endeavors and publish such materials as it deems appropriate to promote the purposes of the commission.

Section 3. TRUST FUND CREATED.--The "Fort Stanton development fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of all gifts, donations and bequests of money to the Fort Stanton development commission as well as any appropriations made to the commission. Earnings from the investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Expenditure from the fund shall be made only for the purposes for which the commission was created pursuant to vouchers signed by the chairman of the commission on warrants issued by the secretary of finance and administration.

HB 926

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