HOUSE BILL 658

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Antonio "Moe" Maestas and Javier Martínez and Angelica Rubio

AN ACT

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; OPENING A MEXICAN AFFAIRS DIVISION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OFFICE IN MEXICO CITY; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 9-15-30 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1988, Chapter 80, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

     "9-15-30. MEXICAN AFFAIRS DIVISION CREATED--DUTIES.--

          A. The "Mexican affairs division" is created as a division of the department.

          B. The division shall be responsible for conducting and coordinating the state's relations with the Republic of Mexico and the state of Chihuahua and shall promote New Mexico products and services in Mexico. The division is created to coordinate activities of the department, the tourism department, the cultural affairs department, the department of transportation, the department of health, the department of environment, the department of public safety, the New Mexico-Chihuahua commission, the border authority and the joint border research institute at New Mexico state university as those activities relate to improving New Mexico-Mexico relations and trade and encouraging or funding appropriate border development.

          C. The division shall open and operate a physical office in Mexico City, Mexico, to improve relationships and increase commerce between Mexico and New Mexico and investment in New Mexico by Mexican companies.

          [C.] D. The division shall provide periodic reports to the New Mexico finance authority oversight committee on its activities and the activities of the state pertaining to New Mexico-Mexico relations, trade and border development."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Two million dollars ($2,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the economic development department for expenditure in fiscal year 2020 to open and operate a Mexican affairs division office in Mexico City, Mexico. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2020 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2019.