HOUSE BILL 475
47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006
INTRODUCED BY
Irvin Harrison
AN ACT
RELATING TO INDIAN AFFAIRS; ADDING THE SECRETARY OF TOURISM TO THE INTERTRIBAL CEREMONIAL BOARD; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 9-15C-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2005, Chapter 219, Section 1) is amended to read:
"9-15C-1. SHORT TITLE.--[This act] Chapter 9, Article 15C NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Intertribal Ceremonial Act".
Section 2. Section 9-15C-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2005, Chapter 219, Section 2) is amended to read:
"9-15C-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Intertribal Ceremonial Act:
A. "department" means the tourism department;
B. "director" means the director of the intertribal ceremonial office;
C. "fund" means the intertribal ceremonial fund; [and]
D. "office" means the intertribal ceremonial office; and
E. "secretary" means the secretary of tourism."
Section 3. Section 9-15C-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2005, Chapter 219, Section 3) is amended to read:
"9-15C-3. INTERTRIBAL CEREMONIAL OFFICE CREATED--POWERS AND DUTIES.--
A. The "intertribal ceremonial office" is created and administratively attached to the department.
B. The governor shall appoint a director, who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The director shall hire and terminate other necessary employees, who shall be subject to the provisions of the Personnel Act.
C. The director shall:
(1) work with the department to establish steady funding for the intertribal ceremonial;
(2) supervise the activities of the office;
(3) work with the department to promote the intertribal ceremonial; and
(4) prepare an annual budget and an annual report on the activities of the office.
D. The office, in cooperation with the department, shall:
(1) administer an annual intertribal ceremonial;
(2) cooperate with and assist public and private entities that seek to promote recognition of ceremonies significant to Indian tribes and pueblos;
(3) function as the coordinating office for all services and activities pertaining to the intertribal ceremonial;
(4) adopt rules in accordance with the State Rules Act to carry out the duties of the office;
(5) accept gifts, grants, donations, bequests and devises from any source to be used to carry out its duties; and
(6) enter into contracts.
E. The [governor shall appoint an] "intertribal ceremonial board" [and the director shall serve ex officio on the board] is created. The board shall consist of [seven] eight members, including the director, who shall serve ex officio, the secretary or the secretary's designated representative and six members, appointed by the governor, who shall serve terms of five years each; provided that the governor's first appointments shall be made of two board members for one-year terms, two for two-year terms, one for a three-year term and one for a four-year term. All intertribal ceremonial board members shall be bona fide residents of the state, and at least a majority of the members shall be Native American. A board member shall not be removed during the term of office except for cause, following notice and an opportunity for a hearing."
Section 4. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred ninety-five thousand dollars ($295,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the intertribal ceremonial fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2006 and subsequent fiscal years to pay the salary of a director and the director's assistant, to pay per diem and mileage for intertribal ceremonial board members and to perform the duties required by the Intertribal Ceremonial Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.
Section 5. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.
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