46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT; PROVIDING FOR REIMBURSEMENT TO CERTAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHEN ONE OF THE AGENCIES' OFFICERS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION SET FORTH IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACT AT A CERTIFIED REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING FACILITY; CREATING A FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

Section 1. A new section of the Law Enforcement Training Act is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING--REIMBURSEMENT.--

A. The department of public safety shall reimburse a municipal or county law enforcement agency at the rate of three thousand dollars ($3,000), or to the extent that funds are appropriated, when one of the agency's officers successfully completes the qualifications for certification set forth in Section 29-7-6 NMSA 1978 at a certified regional law enforcement training facility.

B. Upon approval by the director of the academy, reimbursement payments shall be issued by the director of the training and recruiting division of the department of public safety on a quarterly basis and shall be predicated on the number of officers who successfully complete the qualifications for certification set forth in Section 29-7-6 NMSA 1978 at a certified regional law enforcement training facility during the immediately preceding quarter."

Section 2. A new section of the Law Enforcement Training Act is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] FUND CREATED--PURPOSE.--

A. The "law enforcement basic training reimbursement fund" is created in the state treasury.

B. Money in the law enforcement basic training reimbursement fund shall be used to reimburse a municipal or county law enforcement agency when one of the agency's officers successfully completes the qualifications for certification set forth in Section 29-7-6 NMSA 1978 at a certified regional law enforcement training facility.

C. Payments from the law enforcement basic training reimbursement fund shall be made upon vouchers issued and signed by the director of the training and recruiting division of the department of public safety, subject to approval by the director of the academy.

D. Beginning in fiscal year 2005, the director of the training and recruiting division of the department of public safety shall forecast the amount of reimbursement expected in each fiscal year and shall request that necessary funds be appropriated to the law enforcement basic training reimbursement fund."

Section 3. APPROPRIATION.--Four hundred fifty thousand dollars ($450,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the law enforcement basic training reimbursement fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2004 so that the department of public safety may reimburse a municipal or county law enforcement agency when one of the agency's officers successfully completes the qualifications for certification set forth in Section 29-7-6 NMSA 1978 at a certified regional law enforcement training facility. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2003.