HOUSE BILL 946

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Peter Wirth

AN ACT

RELATING TO STATE MUSEUMS; CREATING THE STATE MUSEUM EXHIBIT FUND FOR SUPPORTING EXHIBITS AT NEW MEXICO MUSEUMS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     Section 1. STATE MUSEUM EXHIBIT FUND CREATED--USE.--

          A. The "state museum exhibit fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of money appropriated and transferred to the fund and gifts, grants, donations and bequests. Earnings from investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Money in the fund is appropriated to the cultural affairs department to be distributed to state museums pursuant to the provisions of this section. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert. Disbursements from the fund shall be made upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of cultural affairs.

          B. Money in the state museum exhibit fund shall be expended by the cultural affairs department:

                (1) only for development, implementation and maintenance of exhibitions at state museums; and

                (2) only if there are donations by nonprofit entities for each exhibition in amounts equal to the fund expenditures for that exhibition.

          C. The secretary of cultural affairs, in the secretary's discretion, shall allocate money from the fund in a manner that best utilizes fund resources, maximizes matching donations and distributes fund balances equitably to museums statewide.

          D. As used in this section, "state museum" means a museum, cultural center or laboratory administered by the cultural affairs department.

     Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2006.

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