SENATE BILL 565

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph J. Carraro

AN ACT

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OFFICES; PROVIDING FOR THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO ACQUIRE OFFICE SPACE AND STAFFING FOR A DISTRICT OFFICE FOR EACH LEGISLATOR; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     Section 1. NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL--LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE--LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OFFICES.--

          A. The New Mexico legislative council shall develop and implement a plan to provide each legislator with an office and staff in the legislator's district. The plan shall include:

                (1) procedures for identifying suitable office space;

                (2) procedures for selecting staff;

                (3) guidelines for staff qualifications and salary levels;

                (4) training needs for district office staff; and

                (5) such other guidelines and procedures as necessary to ensure that legislators receive the maximum benefit from a district office.

          B. Upon final approval of a plan by the New Mexico legislative council, the legislative council service shall implement the plan. The legislative council service, pursuant to the procedures in the plan, shall assist each legislator in selecting office space and hiring staff personnel. All personnel hired shall be trained by the legislative council service before beginning employment.

          C. Each staff member of a legislative district office hired pursuant to this section shall report directly to the legislator in whose office the staff member is employed; provided that for all other purposes, the staff member shall be an employee of the legislative council service.

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Two million six hundred sixty thousand dollars ($2,660,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative council service for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 to provide a district office and staff for each legislator pursuant to Section 1 of this act and to be expended as follows:

                (1) one million two hundred sixty thousand dollars ($1,260,000) to be divided equally among the members of the senate; and

                (2) one million four hundred thousand dollars ($1,400,000) to be divided equally among the members of the house of representatives.

          B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 shall revert to the general fund.

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