New Mexico Statutes Chapter 22. Public Schools § 22-16-11. Regulations relative to school buses

A. The state transportation director, appointed as provided in Section 22-16-1 NMSA 1978, shall adopt and enforce regulations adopted by the state board [department] not inconsistent with the Motor Vehicle Code  1 to govern the design and operation of all school buses, used for the transportation of school children, when owned and operated by any school district or privately owned and operated under contract with any school district in this state, and the regulations shall by reference be made a part of any such contract with a school district. Every school district, its officers and employees and every person employed under contract by a school district shall be subject to the regulations.

B. Any officer or employee of any school district who violates any of the regulations or fails to include obligation to comply with the regulations in any contract executed by him on behalf of a school district is guilty of misconduct and subject to removal from office or employment. Any person operating a school bus, under contract with a school district, who fails to comply with any of the regulations is guilty of breach of contract, and the contract may be canceled after notice and hearing by the state transportation director acting in conjunction with the responsible officers of the school district.

C. Any driver of a school bus who fails to comply with any of the regulations is guilty of a misdemeanor.