Contact: Erika Martinez
(505)986-4819
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2014
Governor Signs Land Grant-Merced Transparency Bill
Santa Fe, NM – This week, Governor Susana Martinez signed House Bill 42, which will allow the Land Grant-Merced Board of Trustees to file reports, which include agendas, meeting minutes and actions taken financially and otherwise, with the New Mexico Community Land Grant registry. The bill is sponsored by Representative Tomás E. Salazar (D-7- San Miguel, Santa Fe & Torrance) and Senator Tim Keller (D-17-Bernalillo).
This legislation will meet the legal requirements to assure such records are stored and available in a location accessible to the public by allowing reports to be filed with the University of New Mexico Land Grant Studies Program. Because both entities are public, they are both subject to the Inspection of Public Records Act, thus promoting greater transparency.
“This bill will help ensure clean audits and transparency for rural communities,” said Sen. Keller. “I’m very pleased that the governor signed the bill and look forward to the progress all entities will continue to make in assuring the public has access to important records that promote an open government.”
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