HOUSE BILL 543

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Don L. Tripp

AN ACT

RELATING TO WILDLIFE; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT TO PROVIDE PROCEDURES FOR ENTERING INTO INTERSTATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT COMPACTS GOVERNING SHARED ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Wildlife Conservation Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] INTERSTATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT COMPACT.--

          A. On recommendation of the commission, the governor may enter on behalf of the state into compacts with other states, at least one of which shall share a border with New Mexico, to provide for the cooperative management of endangered and threatened species.

          B. Any compact entered into under the provisions of this section shall seek to achieve viable populations of endangered or threatened species in locations compatible with human activity.

          C. A compact for the purposes provided for in this section shall:

                (1) recognize and accommodate the unique management needs and challenges of the several distinct populations and subspecies of the various species present among the participating states;

                (2) provide for the administration of its provisions and public participation and comment in formulating the policies, procedures and programs governed by the compact;

                (3) include provisions for compiling and sharing data and other information, documents and electronic files among the participating states, the state, federal wildlife management agencies and the public;

                (4) include measures for addressing issues of human and endangered or threatened species interface, including habitat overlap and depredation; and

                (5) provide for uniform civil and criminal penalties for violation of the compact's provisions.

          D. At least ninety days before the governor signs the compact, the commission shall:

                (1) provide copies of the compact to the New Mexico legislative council;

                (2) notify each member of the legislature and the boards of county commissioners likely to be affected by the compact that a copy of the compact will be provided upon request; and

                (3) post the text of the compact on the commission's and department of game and fish's official web sites."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2011.

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