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.
Compiler's notes. — Laws 2020, ch. 9, § 15 recompiled former 8-8-5 NMSA 1978 as part of Chapter 62, Article 19 NMSA 1978, (see 62-19-11 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 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
Article 8 - Public Regulation Commission
Section 8-8-3 - Public regulation commission.
Section 8-8-3.1 - Qualifications of commissioners.
Section 8-8-3.2 - Continuing education requirements for commissioners.
Section 8-8-4 - Commission; general powers and duties.
Section 8-8-4.1 - Propane service; commission duties.
Section 8-8-5 - Chief of staff; division directors; other staff.
Section 8-8-6 - Commission; divisions.
Section 8-8-7 - Administrative services division; chief clerk.
Section 8-8-8 - Consumer relations division.
Section 8-8-10 - Legal division.
Section 8-8-11 - Transportation division.
Section 8-8-12 - Utility division.
Section 8-8-12.1 - Telecommunications bureau.
Section 8-8-13 - Advisory staff.
Section 8-8-14 - Hearing examiners.
Section 8-8-15 - Commission rules; procedures for adoption.
Section 8-8-16 - Record of proceedings.
Section 8-8-17 - Ex parte communications.
Section 8-8-18 - Recusal of commissioner or hearing examiner.
Section 8-8-19 - Prohibited acts; candidates; commissioners and employees.