New Mexico Statutes
Article 3 - Public Records
Section 14-3-11 - Destruction of records.

If it is determined by the administrator, attorney general and agency head that destruction of records will be recommended, the administrator shall have prepared a list of records, together with a brief description of their nature, and shall place upon the agenda of the next meeting of the commission the matter of destruction of the records. The records may be stored in the center awaiting decision of the commission.
The commission's decision with reference to destruction of the records shall be entered on its minutes, together with the date of its order to destroy the records and a general description of the records which it orders to be destroyed. A copy of the commission's order shall be filed with the librarian of the supreme court library.
No public records shall be destroyed if the law prohibits their destruction.
History: 1953 Comp., § 71-6-11, enacted by Laws 1959, ch. 245, § 11; 1965, ch. 81, § 2.
Destruction of paper originals reproduced by microphotography. — It is clear from reading this article that "public records," as defined herein, may be reproduced by microphotography. However, there is no implication that the paper originals can then be destroyed by the administrator. Destruction of such documents can be accomplished only as provided in 14-3-9 to 14-3-11 NMSA 1978, which require, among other things, an appropriate order by the commission. 1960 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 60-68.
County officials are not required to comply with specific terms of 14-3-9 through 14-3-11 NMSA 1978, when they destroy the records kept by them. 1979 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 79-16.
Records made or kept by municipality under its own authority and for its own purposes may be disposed of as the municipality sees fit. What the municipality has power to create, it has power to destroy, but what is created by the state, or by authority of the state, can only be destroyed by the state, or with its permission. 1961 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 61-36.

Structure New Mexico Statutes