HOUSE BILL 539

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Ben Lujan

AN ACT

RELATING TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE; PROVIDING DISTRIBUTIONS FOR HOME HEATING RELIEF; MAKING A DISTRIBUTION TO THE GASOLINE AND HOME HEATING RELIEF FUND FOR THE LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

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

     Section 1. Section 6-4-25 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2005 (1st S.S.), Chapter 2, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "6-4-25. GASOLINE AND HOME HEATING RELIEF FUND--CREATED.--The "gasoline and home heating relief fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, distributions, gifts, grants and donations. Balances in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund. The fund is administered by the department of finance and administration and money in the fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature:

          A. to provide gasoline price rebates to New Mexico taxpayers burdened as a result of extremely high gasoline

prices;

          B. to provide economic relief, in accordance with programs existing within New Mexico law, to New Mexico taxpayers suffering from rapidly increasing home heating costs; and

          C. for the low-income home energy assistance program."

     Section 2. A new section of the Tax Administration Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DISTRIBUTION TO THE GASOLINE AND HOME HEATING RELIEF FUND.--From July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2012, a distribution pursuant to Section 7-1-6.1 NMSA 1978 shall be made to the gasoline and home heating relief fund for the human services department's low-income home energy assistance program in an amount equal to sixty-six and sixty-seven hundredths percent of the net receipts attributable to the natural gas processors tax imposed and collected pursuant to Section 7-33-4 NMSA 1978."

- 2 -