A. The commission shall appoint a "chief of staff" who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the commission staff under the general direction of the commission. The chief of staff shall serve at the pleasure of the commission.
B. With the consent of the commission, the chief of staff shall appoint division directors. Appointments shall be made without reference to party affiliation and solely on the ground of fitness to perform the duties of their offices.
C. Each director, with the consent of the chief of staff, shall employ such professional, technical and support staff as necessary to carry out the duties of the director's division. Employees shall be hired solely on the ground of their fitness to perform the job for which they are hired. Division staff are subject to the provisions of the Personnel Act [Chapter 10, Article 9 NMSA 1978].
History: Laws 1998, ch. 108, § 5; 2000, ch. 57, § 1; 2013, ch. 74, §1; § 8-8-5, recompiled as § 62-19-11 by Laws 2020, ch. 9, § 59.
Compiler's notes. — Laws 2020, ch. 9, § 59 recompiled former 8-8-5 NMSA 1978 as part of Chapter 62, Article 19 NMSA 1978, effective January 1, 2023, contingent upon the adoption of Laws 2019, SJC/SRC/SJR Nos. 1 and 4, Constitutional Amendment 1, at the general election held on November 3, 2020. Constitutional Amendment 1 was adopted by a vote of 445,655 for and 355,471 against. The section number was assigned by the compiler.
The 2013 amendment, effective March 29, 2013, in Subsection C, in the third sentence, deleted "Except as provided in Subsection D of this section"; and deleted former Subsection D, which permitted the superintendent of insurance to designate division positions with the consent of the chief of staff.
The 2000 amendment, effective May 17, 2000, inserted "Except as provided in Subsection D of this section" in the last sentence of Subsection C and added Subsection D.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 62 - Electric, Gas and Water Utilities
Article 19 - Public Regulation Commission
Section 62-19-1 - Short title. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-2 - Definitions. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-3 - Public regulation commission. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-4 - Public regulation commission nominating committee. (Effective January 1, 2022.)
Section 62-19-5 - Qualifications of commissioners. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-6 - Continuing education requirements for commissioners. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-7 - Recusal of commissioner or hearing examiner. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-9 - Commission; general powers and duties. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-10 - Propane service; commission duties. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-11 - Chief of staff; division directors; other staff. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-12 - Commission; divisions. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-13 - Administrative services division; chief clerk. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-14 - Consumer relations division. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-15 - Legal division. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-16 - Transportation division. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-17 - Utility division. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-18 - Telecommunications bureau. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-19 - Advisory staff. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-20 - Hearing examiners. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-21 - Commission rules; procedures for adoption. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-22 - Record of proceedings. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-23 - Ex parte communications. (Effective January 1, 2023.)
Section 62-19-24 - Commission reports. (Effective January 1, 2023.)