SENATE BILL 528

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

INTRODUCED BY

John Pinto

AN ACT

RELATING TO INDIAN AFFAIRS; CREATING THE POSITION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS FIELD TECHNICIAN; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

     Section 1. A new section of the Indian Affairs Department Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] CAPITAL PROJECTS FIELD TECHNICIAN.--

          A. Capital projects field technicians shall be employed by the department to make field contact with each Navajo Nation chapter or entity or other tribal community for which funding for a capital project is appropriated by the legislature.

          B. A capital projects field technician shall:

                (1) provide technical assistance to Navajo Nation chapters or other tribal governments to develop scopes of work, joint powers agreements and provide or arrange for other needed technical assistance for capital projects funded by the legislature to ensure that work on the projects is begun in a timely manner, including working with the Navajo Nation council and other tribal councils to get necessary approval for capital projects;

                (2) make multiple site visits to Navajo Nation chapters or other tribal communities in which capital projects have been funded through appropriations to the department to determine the progress of the project, to identify impediments to completion of the projects and to overcome the impediments to allow completion of the project;

                (3) ensure that billing submitted to the department for capital projects is processed by the state in a timely manner and provide assistance as necessary to resolve questions that arise regarding billing the state for payment for completed work and overall project completion; and

                (4) serve as a liaison between the department's capital projects records staff and the field location of a capital project that is assigned to the department."

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the Indian affairs department for expenditure in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 to fund the salary, benefits, per diem and mileage of a capital projects field technician. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to the general fund.

     Section 3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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