AN ACT
RELATING TO FUNDS; PROVIDING FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY
DISTRIBUTION FROM THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT PERMANENT FUND; PROVIDING THAT THE
TOBACCO SETTLEMENT PERMANENT FUND MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, BE
CONSIDERED A RESERVE FUND OF THE STATE; TEMPORARILY TRANSFERRING UNENCUMBERED
AND UNEXPENDED BALANCES OF A CERTAIN FUND.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 6-4-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1999,
Chapter 207, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:
"6-4-9. TOBACCO SETTLEMENT PERMANENT
FUND--INVESTMENT--DISTRIBUTION.--
A. The "tobacco settlement permanent
fund" is created in the state treasury.
The fund shall consist of money distributed to the state pursuant to the
master settlement agreement entered into between tobacco product manufacturers
and various states, including New Mexico, and executed November 23, 1998 or any
money released to the state from a qualified escrow fund or otherwise paid to
the state as authorized by the model statute, Sections 6-4-12 and 6‑4‑13
NMSA 1978, enacted pursuant to the master settlement agreement. Money in the fund shall be invested by the
state investment officer as land grant permanent funds are invested pursuant to
Chapter 6, Article 8 NMSA 1978. Income
from investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Money in the fund shall not be expended for
any purpose, except as provided in this section.
B. In fiscal years 2003 through 2006, a
distribution shall be made from the tobacco settlement permanent fund to the
general fund in an amount equal to one hundred percent of the total amount of
money distributed to the tobacco settlement permanent fund in that fiscal year.
C. In fiscal year 2007 and in each fiscal year
thereafter, an annual distribution shall be made from the tobacco settlement
permanent fund to the tobacco settlement program fund of an amount equal to fifty
percent of the total amount of money distributed to the tobacco settlement
permanent fund in that fiscal year until that amount is less than an amount
equal to four and seven-tenths percent of the average of the year-end market
values of the tobacco settlement permanent fund for the immediately preceding
five calendar years. Thereafter, the
amount of the annual distribution shall be four and seven-tenths percent of the
average of the year-end market values of the tobacco settlement permanent fund
for the immediately preceding five calendar years. In the event that the actual amount
distributed to the tobacco settlement program fund in a fiscal year is
insufficient to meet appropriations from that fund for that fiscal year, the
secretary of finance and administration shall proportionately reduce each
appropriation accordingly.
D. The tobacco settlement permanent fund shall
be considered a reserve fund of the state and, as a reserve fund, may be
expended in the event that general fund balances, including all authorized
revenues and transfers to the general fund and balances in the general fund
operating reserve, the appropriation contingency fund and the tax stabilization
reserve, will not meet the level of appropriations authorized from the general
fund for a fiscal year. In that event,
in order to avoid an unconstitutional deficit, the legislature may authorize a
transfer from the tobacco settlement permanent fund to the general fund but
only in an amount necessary to meet general fund appropriations."
Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--TRANSFER OF FUND
BALANCES.‑-During fiscal year 2003, any unexpended or unencumbered
balance of the tobacco settlement program fund shall be transferred to the
general fund.