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HB 439: STATE GAME COMMISSIONER TERM LIMITS

An Act Relating To The State Game Commission; Setting Term Limits For Commissioners; Providing For The Legislature To Appoint Two Commissioners; Adding Requirements For Appointment And Removal.

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MOD HB 439
STATE GAME COMMISSIONER TERM LIMITS

Legislative URL:
HB 439 on nmlegis.gov
Emergency Clause:
No
Germane:
N/A
Location:
- OTHER -
Action:
[16] HHGIC/HJC-HHGIC API.
Issue(s):

Related Legislators

Bill Sponsor:

Related Documents

Downloads:
Introduced
Fiscal Impact Report
Summary

This measure changes how some members of the New Mexico Game Commissioner are appointed, sets term limits, and makes other amendments to current law regarding the Commission.

  • Instead of the Governor appointing all seven members, the Governor will appoint (still with the advice and consent of the Senate) the five members who represent the five current Game Commission districts. No more than three will be from the same political party.
  • The Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore will appoint (with the advice and consent of the Governor) one of the at-large members.
  • The Minority Floor Leaders of the House and Senate will appoint (with the advice and consent of the Governor) the other at-large member.
  • One of the at-large members must be a farmer or rancher and the other must have a history of involvement in wildlife and habitat protection issues (currently any of the Commissioners could fulfill those requirements).
  • The at-large members cannot be members of the same political party at the time of their appointment.
  • The Supreme Court may remove a Commissioner only for incompetence, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office and must first issue notice and hold a hearing.
  • The Commission will elect a Chair and Vice Chair annually and the Chair must alternate between a Governor-appointed member and a Legislature-appointed member. Commissioner may serve as Chair only once every four years.

 

A positive aspect of this bill might be that it spreads the power to appoint Commissioners among the Executive and Legislative branches. A concern might be that it might become difficult to meet all the parameters of appointment because of the many layers. Some might consider the limited ability to remove Commissioners–which does not include political reasons such as a change in Administration–positive, while others would consider it a negative.

Outcome: HB 439 died in the House Health, Government & Indian Affairs Committee.

Date of Summary:  2/6/13; Updated 5/30/13