HOUSE BILL 511
48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007
INTRODUCED BY
Rhonda S. King
AN ACT
RELATING TO THE OBSERVANCE OF NEW MEXICO'S ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF STATEHOOD; CREATING A NEW MEXICO CENTENNIAL COMMISSION; PROVIDING POWERS AND DUTIES; CREATING A FUND; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "New Mexico Centennial Celebration Act".
Section 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.--
A. The legislature finds that:
(1) for over four hundred years, New Mexico has retained a political identity; starting as a Spanish colony, New Mexico became a territory of the Republic of Mexico, when Mexico won independence from Spain, and then became a territory of the United States from 1850 until January 6, 1912, when it became the forty-seventh state in the union;
(2) the achievement of statehood was a long and arduous process, but finally New Mexico was admitted to the union upon proclamation of President William Howard Taft;
(3) a greater awareness of New Mexico's unique political, social and historical heritage can serve to unify the state, increase citizen pride and focus attention on the state's distinctive qualities that make it so attractive to residents, businesses and tourists; and
(4) the centennial provides a unique occasion for statewide celebration and opportunities for greater awareness, both within and without the state, of New Mexico's history and culture and its significant role in the future of the United States.
B. The purpose of the New Mexico Centennial Celebration Act is to create a centennial commission to plan, promote and coordinate state and local observances of the one hundredth anniversary of statehood.
Section 3. COMMISSION CREATED--MEMBERSHIP--STAFF.--
A. The "New Mexico centennial commission" is created. The commission is composed of thirteen members appointed by the governor from different geographic areas of the state, giving due regard to the cultural diversity of the state. The secretaries of cultural affairs, tourism and Indian affairs and the state historian shall serve as ex-officio, nonvoting members of the commission. Members shall serve from the date of their appointment until December 31, 2012. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governor. The governor shall appoint the chair, and the commission may appoint other officers as it deems necessary. Public members are entitled to receive per diem and mileage as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act, but shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.
B. Staff for the commission shall be provided by the cultural affairs department.
Section 4. COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES--CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT DUTIES.--
A. The New Mexico centennial commission may:
(1) designate advisory and honorary boards or special committees to assist it in planning, developing and coordinating specific activities of the centennial;
(2) adopt an official flag, seal and other emblems for the celebration of New Mexico's centennial and copyright them in the name of the state;
(3) accept donations, gifts, grants and other things of value, including real or personal property and personal services; and
(4) do other things consistent with the purpose of the New Mexico Centennial Celebration Act to carry out the provisions of that act.
B. The commission shall plan, encourage, develop and coordinate state and local observances of New Mexico's centennial held between January and December 2012.
C. The cultural affairs department shall serve as fiscal agent for the commission and may enter into contracts to carry out the powers and duties of the commission.
Section 5. COOPERATION.--
A. In fulfilling its responsibilities, the New Mexico centennial commission shall consult, cooperate with and seek advice from appropriate state departments and agencies, public schools, post-secondary educational institutions, local public bodies, learned societies and historical, patriotic, philanthropic, civic, professional and related organizations. State departments and agencies shall cooperate with the commission in planning, encouraging, developing and coordinating appropriate commemorative activities.
B. The president of each state university shall cooperate with the commission, especially in the encouragement, coordination and publicity of scholarly works and presentations on the history, culture, political thought and commemoration of New Mexico and the one hundredth anniversary of statehood.
C. The commission shall determine whether there are any sites within the state that are appropriate for preservation or development in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of statehood in a manner to ensure that fitting observances and exhibits may be held at the sites during the centennial celebration year.
Section 6. PROPERTY ACQUIRED.--
A. Unless otherwise specified in the acquisition, any personal property acquired by the New Mexico centennial commission shall be deposited for preservation with the state library or records center or otherwise disposed of in consultation with appropriate state agencies.
B. Unless otherwise specified in the acquisition, any real property acquired by the commission shall be accepted in the name of the state and shall be held by the cultural affairs department or the property control division of the general services department, as appropriate.
Section 7. FUND CREATED.--The "New Mexico centennial fund" is created in the state treasury. All money received by the New Mexico centennial commission and income from investment of the fund shall be deposited in the fund. Money in the fund shall not revert to the general fund until January 1, 2013 or until all encumbrances related to the New Mexico centennial celebration and payable from the fund have been paid, whichever is later. The fund shall be administered by the cultural affairs department, and money in the fund is appropriated to the department to pay expenses approved by the New Mexico centennial commission to carry out the purposes of the New Mexico Centennial Celebration Act. Expenditures from the fund shall be by warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of cultural affairs or the secretary's authorized representative.
Section 8. REPORT.--
A. The New Mexico centennial commission shall submit to the governor a report incorporating its specific recommendations for the ceremonial, educational and scholastic commemoration of the New Mexico centennial by July 1, 2008. The report shall recommend activities, such as:
(1) the production, publication and distribution of books, pamphlets, films and other educational materials about New Mexico and its history, culture, arts, society and politics;
(2) bibliographical and documentary projects and publications;
(3) conferences, convocations, lectures, seminars and other programs;
(4) the development of special projects for libraries, museums, state parks and historic sites, including special exhibits and traveling exhibits;
(5) ceremonies and celebrations commemorating specific and general events;
(6) the involvement of state agencies; political subdivisions; public schools; public post-secondary educational institutions; and cultural, artistic, historical and other organizations; and
(7) any other recommended activities.
B. The report shall include recommendations for the allocation of financial and administrative responsibility among public and private authorities, a list of organizations recommended for participation by the commission and proposals for legislation or administrative action necessary to carry out the recommendations of the commission.
Section 9. APPROPRIATION.--
A. Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the New Mexico centennial fund for expenditure in fiscal years 2007 and subsequent fiscal years for:
(1) expenses of the New Mexico centennial commission, including per diem and mileage expenses and salary and benefits for a staff person assigned to the commission from the cultural affairs department;
(2) development of a web site for centennial-related activities; and
(3) other centennial-related expenses.
B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall revert to the general fund as provided in Section 7 of the New Mexico Centennial Celebration Act.
Section 10. DELAYED REPEAL.--This act is repealed effective January 1, 2013.
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