SENATE BILL 116

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Nancy Rodriguez and Ron Griggs

AN ACT

RELATING TO COURTS; CREATING THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE BUILDINGS FUND; PROVIDING FOR GRANTS TO CERTAIN COUNTIES FOR COURTHOUSE PROJECTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] COUNTY COURTHOUSE BUILDINGS FUND--CREATION--ADMINISTRATION--PURPOSES.--

          A. The "county courthouse buildings fund" is created within the state treasury and shall be administered by the administrative office of the courts. The fund consists of money appropriated by the legislature and any other federal, public or private money dedicated to the fund. Interest earned shall be credited to the fund, and money in the fund shall not revert to any other fund at the end of a fiscal year. Money in the fund shall be disbursed on warrants signed by the director of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the director of the administrative office of the courts. The administrative office of the courts shall adopt rules necessary to administer the fund.

          B. Money in the county courthouse buildings fund is appropriated to the administrative office of the courts to:

                (1) make grants to counties to remodel, renovate or construct courthouses, excluding the purchase of land or buildings; provided that the grant shall be expended only for courtrooms and court-related facilities; and

                (2) administer the provisions of this section.

          C. The administrative office of the courts shall adopt rules governing the terms and conditions of grants made from the county courthouse buildings fund. Grants shall be made from the fund only if the county provides matching funding for a proposed project, which shall be in an amount equal to the grant. Grants from the county courthouse buildings fund shall be made only after the administrative office of the courts has determined that the financing for the complete project is cost-effective.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the county courthouse buildings fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2023 and subsequent fiscal years for the purposes of that fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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