SENATE BILL 145

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

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

AN ACT

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES; CREATING THE NEW MEXICO REFORESTATION CENTER TO ADDRESS THE STATE'S CURRENT AND FUTURE REFORESTATION NEEDS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] NEW MEXICO REFORESTATION CENTER--CREATED.--

          A. The "New Mexico reforestation center" is created.

          B. The New Mexico reforestation center shall address the impacts of a changing climate 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 related to reforestation.

          C. The administration and operations of the New Mexico reforestation center shall be detailed in an agreement entered into between the forestry division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department, 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.

     SECTION 2. 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 state university for expenditure in fiscal year 2023 and subsequent fiscal years for the first-year operational expenses of the New Mexico reforestation center as provided in the agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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