HOUSE BILL 94

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

David M. Gallegos and Carlos R. Cisneros

ENDORSED BY THE LAND GRANT COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO ACEQUIAS AND COMMUNITY DITCHES; PROVIDING POWERS TO THE ACEQUIA COMMISSION; REQUIRING A REPORT.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 73-2-66 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, Chapter 293, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "73-2-66. POWERS AND DUTIES.--

          A. The acequia commission, through its staff or contract agents, may apply for and accept any public or private grants, gifts or donations for the benefit of the acequia commission or acequias or community ditches in general or particular.

          B. The acequia commission, through its staff or contract agents, may:

                (1) assist acequias or community ditches in all areas of acequia or community ditch economic development, infrastructure development and legislative initiatives, including capital outlay proposals;

                (2) establish cooperative purchasing capabilities for acequias or community ditches;

                (3) perform special studies and undertake surveys of interest for acequias or community ditches and report the findings;

                (4) serve as fiscal agent and administrator for federal and state grants-in-aid and other funding for an acequia or a community ditch when necessary;

                (5) facilitate or enter into agreements with state and federal agencies on behalf of acequias or community ditches;

                (6) enter into contracts to carry out its duties; and

                (7) provide other assistance to assist acequias or community ditches.

          C. The acequia commission shall:

                [A.] (1) provide advice and assist the governor, legislature, office of the state engineer and interstate stream commission and the United States army corps of engineers in establishing acequia and community ditch rehabilitation priorities and in other acequia and community ditch matters;

                [B.] (2) serve as a facilitator for communication between acequia and community ditch associations and state and federal agencies; and

                [C.] (3) review and comment on any plan or legislation affecting acequias or community ditches to the governor, the legislature, the [secretary] director of the New Mexico department of agriculture and the interstate stream commission."

     SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] REPORT TO GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE.--The acequia commission shall report to the governor and the legislature by December 1 of each year on the state of acequias and community ditches in New Mexico and the activities of the acequia commission for that year.

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2017.

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