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

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 5, SECTION 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO REQUIRE THE STATE AUDITOR TO BE A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT AND REQUIRE THE STATE TREASURER TO HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE AND HAVE EARNED TWENTY HOURS OF CREDITS IN BUSINESS OR FINANCE CLASSES.

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

Section 1. It is proposed to amend Article 5, Section 3 of the constitution of New Mexico to read:

"A. No person shall be eligible to any office specified in Section One, hereof, unless he be a citizen of the United States, at least thirty years of age, nor unless he shall have resided continuously in New Mexico for five years next preceding his election [nor to] and have the qualifications for a specific office as follows:

(1) for the office of attorney general, [unless] he must be a licensed attorney of the supreme court of New Mexico in good standing [nor to];

(2) for the office of superintendent of public instruction, [unless] he must be a trained and experienced educator;

(3) for the office of state auditor, he must be a certified public accountant; and

(4) for the office of state treasurer, he must be a graduate of a four-year college, recipient of a bachelor's degree and have earned twenty hours of credits in business or finance classes.

B. The increased qualifications for the office of state auditor or state treasurer shall apply to terms beginning January 1, 2002.

Section 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date which may be called for that purpose.