HB 24: COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE ATTORNEYS CHANGES - New Mexico

RD substitute → Final Version · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill transfers administration of the Community Governance Attorney and Conditional Tuition Waiver Program from the Higher Education Department to the University of New Mexico School of Law. It creates a new five-member commission to oversee the program, establishes specific repayment terms with interest rates, and expands eligibility to include state agencies and nonprofit organizations serving low-income residents.

Scope change

The program's administration moved from the Higher Education Department to the University of New Mexico School of Law, and eligibility was expanded to include state agencies and nonprofit organizations in addition to counties and municipalities.

ADMINISTRATION

Program administration transferred from the Higher Education Department to the University of New Mexico School of Law.

GOVERNANCE

Created a new five-member commission including a secretary/designee, university dean/designee, and three governor-appointed members (one from acequia commission, one from land grant council, one from colonias infrastructure board).

FISCAL

Changed interest rates from 18% to 7% for repayment, and established a 10-year repayment period starting six months after course completion.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligible entities to include state agencies and nonprofit organizations whose mission includes providing legal services to low-income New Mexicans.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that contracts provide for 50% waiver forgiveness each year when employed as community governance attorney, with salary capped at entry-level rate.

Added requirement that contracts provide free legal services for acequias, land grants-mercedes, and low-income colonia residents on governance issues.

TIMELINE

Set effective date of the act to July 1, 2025.

JC substitute → RD substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill transfers administration of the Community Governance Attorney Program from the Higher Education Department to the University of New Mexico School of Law. It also modifies commission composition, repayment terms, and funding rules to better serve colonias and underserved communities.

Scope change

The program's administration moved from the Higher Education Department to the UNM School of Law, and counties/municipalities with designated colonias are now explicitly authorized to hire Community Governance Attorneys.

ADMINISTRATION

Transferred program administration from the Higher Education Department to the University of New Mexico School of Law.

ELIGIBILITY

Explicitly allows counties and municipalities with at least one designated colonia within their boundaries to hire Community Governance Attorneys.

REQUIREMENT

Changed commission composition from five members to three members appointed by the governor, with specific requirements for acequia, land grant council, and colonia infrastructure board representation.

Adjusted repayment interest rates to 18% if no forgiveness is received, or 7% in other cases, with a maximum 10-year repayment period.

Reordered and renumbered department duties, removing publicization duties from the department and assigning them to the university instead.

FISCAL

Removed the $50,000 salary cap and replaced it with a cap tied to entry-level salaries at federally funded legal service entities in New Mexico.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the commission's role from departmental oversight to providing recommendations to the department on program applicants.

introduced version → JC substitute · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill substitute expands eligibility for community governance attorneys to include counties and municipalities with designated colonias, clarifies salary caps for legal services, and modifies composition requirements for the oversight commission. The changes aim to broaden access to legal support for colonias while maintaining funding constraints.

Scope change

Expanded from only state agencies to include counties and municipalities with designated colonias within their boundaries

ELIGIBILITY

Added counties and municipalities with at least one designated colonia within their boundaries as eligible entities to hire community governance attorneys

Changed commission membership requirements from three specific categories to a more flexible structure with three categories including colonias infrastructure board members

Added acequia commission members as a required category for commission membership

FISCAL

Modified salary cap language to clarify maximum salary limits for community governance attorneys at $50,000 annually with potential adjustments

REQUIREMENT

Removed requirement that agencies provide 50% of attorney salaries in nonstate funds, replaced with matching funding requirements for service providers

COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE ATTORNEYS CHANGES

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