SENATE BILL 252

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

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Kay Papen

ENDORSED BY THE MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY

ACT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO HOUSING; TRANSFERRING OVERSIGHT OF THE REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION; AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE REGIONAL HOUSING LAW.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 11-3A-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, Chapter 132, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

     "11-3A-6. POWERS OF REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY IN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS--APPOINTMENT OF BOARD OF REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES--TERMS.--

          A. The powers of each regional housing authority shall be vested in its board of commissioners as the board may be constituted, from time to time. The board of commissioners of the regional housing authority for each of the three regions shall consist of one person from each county within the designated area of the regional housing authority, which person shall be a resident of that county and shall be appointed by the governor. Appointments shall be for terms of four years and shall be made so that the terms of not more than four commissioners on each board of commissioners expire on July 1 of each year. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. Commissioners shall serve until their successors have been appointed.

          B. Members of [a] the board of commissioners of a regional housing authority shall elect an executive committee consisting of a chair, vice chair, treasurer, secretary and one other member of the board to function and meet on a monthly basis as an executive committee. The executive committee shall have the authority to act on behalf of the board of commissioners of the regional housing authority as needed. The executive committee shall submit a report of actions to the full board of commissioners, which shall meet on a quarterly basis.

          C. [The] Members of the [boards] board of commissioners of a regional housing authority may receive per diem and mileage as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act but shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance. A majority of the appointed commissioners of a board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum of [a] the board [of commissioners] for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by a regional housing authority upon a vote of a majority of the commissioners present. Each board of commissioners shall organize itself at its annual meeting each year. A board of commissioners may employ an executive director, subject to approval by the [New Mexico mortgage finance authority] department of finance and administration. With delegated authority from the board of commissioners, the executive director may hire or terminate, according to the procurement and personnel policies and procedures of the regional housing authority, any technical experts, officers, attorneys, agents or employees, permanent or temporary, as the regional housing authority may require.

          D. The threshold requirements for commissioners of boards of regional housing authorities are that commissioners have expertise and experience in housing construction, real estate, architecture, law, banking, housing finance, business, property management, accounting, residential development, public housing programs, community development, social services or health care. The requirements set forth in this section shall not apply to commissioners serving pursuant to requirements of the federal department of housing and urban development.

          E. Commissioners are expected to attend all meetings of the board of commissioners of the regional housing authority, and more than three unexcused absences may be grounds for dismissal from the board. All recommendations for [appointment as] appointments of commissioners shall be forwarded to and reviewed by the [New Mexico mortgage finance authority] department of finance and administration prior to recommendation to the governor."

     SECTION 2. Section 11-3A-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, Chapter 132, Section 9, as amended) is amended to read:

     "11-3A-9. NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS.--Every regional housing authority, in addition to other powers conferred by the Regional Housing Law, shall have, if authorized by resolution of its board of commissioners and approved by the state board of finance, the power to create nonprofit corporations to carry out the powers and duties set forth in Section 11-3A-7 NMSA 1978. The articles of incorporation and bylaws, and any subsequent changes, shall be recommended for approval by the state board of finance and the [New Mexico mortgage finance authority] department of finance and administration. Such nonprofit corporations shall be subject to all of the duties and limitations imposed on the regional housing authority and its board of commissioners."

     SECTION 3. Section 11-3A-30 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 50, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

     "11-3A-30. FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT.--

          A. Without the prior approval of the [New Mexico mortgage finance authority] department of finance and administration, no regional housing authority shall:

                (1) enter into any contract, memorandum of understanding or other agreement with a value greater than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000); or

                (2) transfer, sell or liquidate any real or personal property with a value greater than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

          B. Not less than thirty days prior to the beginning of its fiscal year, each regional housing authority and each nonprofit corporation established pursuant to Section 11-3A-9 NMSA 1978 shall submit a final operating budget for the subsequent fiscal year to the [New Mexico mortgage finance authority] department of finance and administration for review.

          C. The financial affairs of every regional housing authority and any nonprofit corporation created by a regional housing authority shall be thoroughly examined and audited annually by the state auditor, by personnel of the state auditor's office designated by the state auditor or by auditors approved by the state auditor. The audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Each regional housing authority shall submit to the state auditor, the department of finance and administration [the New Mexico mortgage finance authority, the Mortgage Finance Authority Act oversight committee] and the legislative finance committee, within thirty days following the receipt of the annual audit of the regional housing authority, a copy of that audit.

          D. Every regional housing authority shall submit an annual report of its financial and operational activities to the [New Mexico mortgage finance authority] department of finance and administration for review and analysis and for dissemination to the [department of finance and administration, the Mortgage Finance Authority Act oversight committee and the] legislative finance committee. Each report shall set forth a complete operating and financial statement covering its operations since the previous report was presented.

          E. Failure on the part of a regional housing authority to correct any qualified audit within one year of the release of the audit shall result in the abatement of any state funds until such corrective actions are taken. If a regional housing authority should receive a qualified audit opinion for more than two consecutive years, the oversight agency shall recommend corrective action to be taken."

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