HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FORTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE FIRST SESSION, 2005 New Mexico Legislative Council Service May 2005 prepared by: The New Mexico Legislative Council Service 411 State Capitol Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 (505) 986-4600 www.legis.state.nm.us TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES.......................................................................................................1 ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK........................................................................................................................1 APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE............................................................................................................2 Appropriations ....................................................................................................................................2 Finance ................................................................................................................................................3 New Mexico Finance Authority..........................................................................................................4 Capital Outlay .....................................................................................................................................5 BUSINESS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE................................................................6 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES ........................................................................................................9 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS .......................................................................................................11 COURTS AND SETTLEMENTS .................................................................................................................11 CRIMINAL LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY..................................................................................................12 CULTURAL AFFAIRS ..................................................................................................................................16 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................................................................16 EDUCATION ................................................................................................................................................17 Public Schools ...................................................................................................................................18 Public School Finance.......................................................................................................................22 Post-Secondary Education.................................................................................................................22 Public School Capital Outlay............................................................................................................25 ELECTIONS...................................................................................................................................................26 EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR.....................................................................................................................27 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................28 GAMING AND WAGERING ......................................................................................................................30 HEALTH AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE......................................................................................................31 HOUSING......................................................................................................................................................35 HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS ...................................................................................................................35 INDIAN AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS................................................................................36 LAND GRANTS - MERCEDES....................................................................................................................37 LOCAL GOVERNMENT .............................................................................................................................38 MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS ....................................................................................................38 MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRANSPORTATION .....................................................................................39 PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE ........................................................................42 PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES ....................................................................................................44 STATE GOVERNMENT...............................................................................................................................45 Organization......................................................................................................................................45 Operations.........................................................................................................................................46 Property and Procurement................................................................................................................46 Symbols and Motto ...........................................................................................................................47 TAXATION ....................................................................................................................................................48 UTILITIES AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ..........................................................................................53 WATER...........................................................................................................................................................54 APPENDIXES APPENDIX A — DATA ON LEGISLATION...............................................................................................58 APPENDIX B — APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE ............................................................................60 Table 1 - Summary of General Fund Appropriations Table 2 - General Appropriation Act of 2005 Chart 1 - General Fund Appropriations, Fiscal Years 2005 and 2006 Chart 2 - General Fund Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2005 Chart 3 - General Fund Appropriations, Fiscal Year 2006 Table 3 - General Appropriation Act Vetoes Table 4 - Bills Affecting General Fund Revenue Table 5 - Bills Affecting Other State Revenue Table 6 - Bills Affecting Local Government Revenue APPENDIX C — CAPITAL OUTLAY ..........................................................................................................73 Table 7 - 2005 Capital Outlay Projects by Category (summary) Table 8 - 2005 Capital Outlay Projects by County (summary) Table 9 - 2005 Capital Outlay Projects by Agency (summary) Chart 4 - 2005 Capital Outlay Projects APPENDIX D — EFFECTIVE DATES OF LAWS 2005 .............................................................................78 APPENDIX E — NAME CHANGES IN LAWS 2005..................................................................................95 APPENDIX F — SUBJECT INDEX WITH LOCATOR TITLES................................................................96 APPENDIX G — CONCORDANCE......................................................................................................... 103 INDEXES BILL INDEX ................................................................................................................................................ 133 GENERAL INDEX...................................................................................................................................... 136 Introduction What do you want to be a sailor for? There are greater storms in politics than you will ever find at sea. --David Lloyd George, British Statesman Despite David Lloyd George's warning, legislators enjoyed relatively smooth sailing during the first session of the forty-seventh legislature. An increasingly cordial relationship with the governor, new leadership in the senate and a healthy revenue surplus helped the ship of state sail ahead in calm waters. Major initiatives were considered and eventually approved. Additional tax cuts were enacted, financed in part by a one-year delay in the implementation of the 2003 income tax cuts. A pre- kindergarten program was approved, a higher education department was created and ignition interlock devices were mandated for all DWI offenders. The financially troubled educational retirement system was shored up, regulations for all-terrain vehicles were approved, election laws were reformed and the banking of umbilical cord blood for research was approved. New Mexico became the first state in the nation to pay the premiums for additional life insurance for members of the New Mexico national guard. The legislature also named the hot air balloon the official state aircraft while, coincidently, imposing a new tax on helium and appropriating $5 million to buy what was once a controversial new state airplane. Once again, New Mexico was blessed with an encouraging revenue forecast. While other states wrestled with budget deficits and reducing expenditures, New Mexico legislators were greeted with $284 million in additional revenue when they arrived in Santa Fe. Thanks to record oil and gas prices, budget writers were