44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO COURTS; PROVIDING FOR AN ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE IN THE SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT; PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT AND ELECTION; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

Section 1. Section 34-6-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 69, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:

"34-6-9. JUDGES--SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT.--There shall be [two] three district judges in the sixth judicial district. The judge of division 1 shall reside and maintain his principal office in Grant county."

Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--APPOINTMENT--ELECTION.--

A. The governor shall appoint one additional district judge to serve in the sixth judicial district. The appointed district judge shall begin serving on July 1, 1999 and shall serve until succeeded by a district judge elected pursuant to the provisions of Subsection B of this section.

B. The first full term of the office of district judge shall be filled by election at the general election in 2000, and that term shall begin on January 1, 2001.

Section 3. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred sixty-four thousand dollars ($264,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the administrative office of the courts for expenditure in fiscal year 2000 for the purpose of providing salaries, benefits, travel, furniture, supplies and office costs for one new district judge and support staff in the sixth judicial district. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.

Section 4 EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 1999.