New Mexico Statutes Chapter 4. Counties § 4-58-4. Recognized regional councils

A. The governing board of any existing economic development district or council of government is the regional council of the initial planning and development district. No regional council of a planning and development district shall be recognized unless the membership of its governing board complies with the provisions of Subsection B of this section.

B. In order to qualify for the benefits of the provisions of the Planning District Act, the regional council of a planning and development district shall be officially designated by the governor; shall have a governing board of at least fifty percent elected officials of local or county governments and the remainder of the members shall represent economic development organizations and organizations broadly representative of diverse community interests.

C. The operations of regional councils of planning and development districts shall be solely within the discretion and control of the governing boards.

D. Qualification as a regional council and eligibility for grants-in-aid provisions of the Planning District Act shall terminate with respect to any regional council that uses state funds for any purpose not within the intent and purposes of the Planning District Act and shall not be restored until the regional council makes restitution for any misused funds and furnishes proof of compliance with respect to future operations.