SENATE BILL 180
55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021
INTRODUCED BY
Pat Woods
AN ACT
RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES; ENACTING THE NEW MEXICO REFORESTATION CENTER ACT; DIRECTING THE FORESTRY DIVISION OF THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AT NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS UNIVERSITY, THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO TO CREATE THE NEW MEXICO REFORESTATION CENTER TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE STATE'S FORESTS AND ADDRESS THE STATE'S REFORESTATION NEEDS; CREATING A BOARD; DIRECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEDICATED ACCOUNT FOR FUNDING; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "New Mexico Reforestation Center Act".
SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] NEW MEXICO REFORESTATION CENTER--JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT.--
A. The forestry division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department shall enter into a joint powers agreement with the department of forestry of New Mexico highlands university, the agricultural experiment station of New Mexico state university and the department of biology of the university of New Mexico to create the "New Mexico reforestation center".
B. The New Mexico reforestation center shall address the impacts of climate change on the state's forests and meet the state's current and future reforestation needs through establishment of a seed bank program, a nursery program and a planting program and shall develop and operate comprehensive policies and projects for:
(1) seed collection;
(2) seed processing;
(3) seed storage;
(4) seed orchards;
(5) seedling production;
(6) seedling storage;
(7) seedling distribution;
(8) planting and monitoring;
(9) climate modeling and database management; and
(10) research, outreach, education and training to support the seed bank, nursery and planting programs.
C. The joint powers agreement shall specify the areas of responsibilities for each party to the agreement, and responsibility shall be divided among the parties based on expertise and capabilities; provided that:
(1) New Mexico highlands university shall act as the fiscal agent for the New Mexico reforestation center;
(2) a majority of the positions supporting the nursery program and research efforts, including a regeneration scientist, shall be housed in the agricultural experiment station of New Mexico state university;
(3) academic, administrative support and seasonal positions shall be housed in the department of forestry of New Mexico highlands university;
(4) climate modeling and database management shall be housed in the department of biology of the university of New Mexico; and
(5) one full-time-equivalent position for a planting and seed collection coordinator shall be housed in the forestry division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department.
SECTION 3. [NEW MATERIAL] NEW MEXICO REFORESTATION BOARD--MEMBERS--DUTIES.--
A. The "New Mexico reforestation board" is created.
B. The board consists of the following members:
(1) the state forester;
(2) the director of forestry of New Mexico highlands university;
(3) the director of reforestation of New Mexico state university;
(4) the director of the New Mexico forest and watershed restoration institute at New Mexico highlands university; and
(5) a faculty member of the university of New Mexico who is an expert in forest ecology and climate modeling, appointed by the chair of the department of biology of the university of New Mexico.
C. A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
D. The board shall elect from its membership the chair of the board. Each member of the board shall serve as chair on a rotating basis.
E. The powers and duties of the board shall be specified in the joint powers agreement entered into pursuant to Section 2 of the New Mexico Reforestation Center Act; provided that the board shall have responsibility for:
(1) strategic planning for the New Mexico reforestation center; and
(2) fiscal decisions and the allocation of funds for the New Mexico reforestation center.
SECTION 4. [NEW MATERIAL] NEW MEXICO REFORESTATION CENTER ACCOUNT.--By July 1, 2021, the board of regents of New Mexico highlands university shall establish a "New Mexico reforestation center account" to receive appropriations from the legislature, gifts, grants or donations and revenues and receipts derived from the operations of the New Mexico reforestation center. Money in the New Mexico reforestation center account shall be used for the operations of the New Mexico reforestation center, including salaries, as provided in the joint powers agreement entered into pursuant to Section 2 of the New Mexico Reforestation Center Act. Money in the account shall not revert to any other fund or account at the end of a fiscal year.
SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION.--Four million six hundred eight thousand one hundred dollars ($4,608,100) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of regents of New Mexico highlands university for deposit in the New Mexico reforestation center account and for expenditure in fiscal year 2022 and subsequent fiscal years for the first-year operational expenses of the New Mexico reforestation center as provided in the joint powers agreement entered into pursuant to Section 2 of the New Mexico Reforestation Center Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund; provided that if the joint powers agreement required by Section 2 of the New Mexico Reforestation Center Act is not entered into by July 1, 2022, the amount appropriated in this section shall revert to the general fund.
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