SENATE BILL 244

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Ron Griggs

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR COUNTY COURTHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS STATEWIDE; REQUIRING MATCHING FUNDS FROM SOURCES OTHER THAN THE STATE.

 

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

     SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Two hundred fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the local government division of the department of finance and administration for expenditure in fiscal years 2021 through 2024 as follows, to allocate state funding to counties as provided in this section to remodel, renovate or construct courthouses, including equipment and furnishings but excluding purchases of land or buildings; provided that state funding shall be expended only for courtrooms and court-related facilities:

                (1) one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in fiscal year 2021; and

                (2) fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) in each fiscal year from 2022 through 2024.

          B. If the administrative office of the courts is unable to allocate the amounts specified for a fiscal year, the remainder may be added to the next fiscal year's allocation amount.

          C. The administrative office of the courts shall develop criteria for applications and allocations to county governments, including requiring a fifty percent match from each county that applies for each allocation pursuant to Subsection A of this section from sources other than the state. The administrative office of the courts shall monitor each courthouse project for which an allocation has been made to ensure timely expenditure of the allocation and progress toward finishing the project in a reasonable time. The administrative office of the courts shall ensure that every county that receives an allocation pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall revert any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining of the allocation to the general fund upon completion of the courthouse project.

          D. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2024 from the appropriation made in Subsection A of this section shall revert to the general fund.