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

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE TO CONSULT WITH THE STATE LAND OFFICE REGARDING PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AFFECTING THE LAND GRANT PERMANENT FUND.

WHEREAS, the Enabling Act for New Mexico created the permanent school fund, also known as the land grant permanent fund, as an endowment to support New Mexico's public schools and certain other beneficiaries; and

WHEREAS, joint resolutions have been introduced before the New Mexico legislature proposing to amend the constitution of New Mexico to increase distributions from the land grant permanent fund to pay for school reforms or to change the purposes for which the distributions are used; and

WHEREAS, bills have been introduced before the New Mexico legislature proposing to hold a special election for the purposes of submitting those constitutional amendments to the voters for their approval or rejection; and

WHEREAS, the secretary of state is responsible for advertising, overseeing and conducting state elections, including elections that submit constitutional amendments to the voters for their approval or rejection; and

WHEREAS, the legislative council service is responsible for assisting the secretary of state by providing information to the voters regarding arguments for and against constitutional amendments; and

WHEREAS, the state land office, an executive branch agency, is created by the constitution of New Mexico and is overseen by an elected commissioner of public lands; and

WHEREAS, the state land office is charged with maintaining the trust from which land grant permanent fund revenues are derived; and

WHEREAS, the state land office has relevant expertise regarding the land grant permanent fund; and

WHEREAS, the state land office has relevant expertise regarding the effect that increased distribution from the land grant permanent fund would have on state trust land operations;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of state and the legislative council service be requested to consult with the state land office in preparation for all constitutional amendments regarding the land grant permanent fund that appear on the ballot until the next regular session of the New Mexico legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of state and the legislative council service.