The bill amends the Public Regulation Commission Act to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Public Regulation Commission and its supporting agency. It establishes key definitions to differentiate between the "commission," which serves as the regulatory body, and the "agency," which encompasses the staff and support functions. The bill outlines the composition and duties of the Public Regulation Commission Nominating Committee, emphasizing the need for geographical diversity among nominees and detailing the committee's operational procedures, including meeting frequency and vacancy filling processes. Additionally, it introduces continuing education requirements for commissioners, mandating ethics training and relevant courses, while specifying prohibited acts to prevent conflicts of interest.

Further amendments focus on the structure and responsibilities of various divisions within the commission, including the establishment of minimum qualifications for directors of the legal and utility divisions, which now require New Mexico bar membership and relevant administrative experience. The utility division is empowered to represent the public interest in utility matters, with the authority to present testimony and cross-examine witnesses. A new telecommunications bureau is created within the utility division to address disputes and complaints, with a resolution mandate of sixty days. The bill also clarifies communication protocols for hearing examiners and commissioners during rulemakings and adjudications, allowing certain ex parte communications under specific conditions while ensuring transparency and fairness in proceedings. Overall, these amendments aim to enhance the accountability and efficiency of the Public Regulation Commission.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 62-19-2, 62-19-4, 62-19-6, 62-19-8, 62-19-9, 62-19-11, 62-19-12, 62-19-13, 62-19-14, 62-19-15, 62-19-17, 62-19-18, 62-19-20, 62-19-21, 62-19-22, 62-19-23
Final Version: 62-19-2, 62-19-4, 62-19-6, 62-19-8, 62-19-9, 62-19-11, 62-19-12, 62-19-13, 62-19-14, 62-19-15, 62-19-17, 62-19-18, 62-19-20, 62-19-21, 62-19-22, 62-19-23