New Mexico Statutes 72-14-45. New Mexico unit fund; purpose; appropriation
A. The “New Mexico unit fund” is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of money distributed to the state pursuant to Paragraphs (2)(D)(I) and (ii) of Section 403(f) of the federal Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968, as amended by Section 107(a) of the federal Arizona Water Settlements Act, Public Law 108-451, December 10, 2004; other money made available to the fund pursuant to Section 212 of the federal Arizona Water Settlements Act, Public Law 108-451, December 10, 2004;
Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 72-14-45
- Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
- Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
appropriations; grants; and donations or bequests to the fund.
B. Income from the fund shall be credited to the fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund. Money in the fund shall not be transferred, other than through an intra-agency transfer, to any other fund.
C. Money in the fund shall be administered by the interstate stream commission and is appropriated to the interstate stream commission for expenditure in fiscal year 2012 and subsequent fiscal years to comply with the provisions of the federal laws cited in Subsection A of this section. Money in the fund shall be used to pay the costs of water utilization projects to meet water supply demands in the southwest water planning region of New Mexico that encompasses Catron, Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties, as determined by the interstate stream commission in consultation with the water trust board, which shall be the successor to the southwest New Mexico water study group. Money in the fund shall not be used to evaluate, plan or construct the New Mexico unit. The water trust board shall evaluate projects, including their environmental impacts, proposed within the southwest water planning region of New Mexico and shall recommend projects to the interstate stream commission, which shall have final decision-making authority over which projects are funded. Money in the fund shall not be expended for any purpose other than the purpose provided in this section. The interstate stream commission may adopt rules it deems necessary to carry out the purpose of this section.
D. On or before November 15 of each year, the interstate stream commission shall report to the appropriate legislative interim committee dealing with water and natural resources and to the legislative finance committee on:
(1) the status of the New Mexico unit fund;
(2) the distribution of money from the New Mexico unit fund to implement the purpose of the fund pursuant to Subsection C of this section; and
(3) proposed uses and levels of funding projected for the following fiscal year. E. Expenditures from the fund shall be made on warrants signed by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the director of the interstate stream commission upon the delegation of authority by the interstate stream commission.