New Mexico Statutes Chapter 6. Public Finances § 6-27-9. Investigation of Affordable Housing Act violations; penalties; remedies

A. The attorney general shall investigate an alleged violation of the Affordable Housing Act reported by the authority. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a person is in possession, custody or control of an original or copy of a document or recording, including a record, report, memorandum, paper, communication, tabulation, map, chart, photograph, mechanical transcription or other tangible document or recording that the attorney general believes to be relevant to the subject matter of an investigation of a probable violation of the Affordable Housing Act, the attorney general may, prior to the institution of a civil proceeding, execute in writing and cause to be served upon the person a civil investigative demand requiring the person to produce for inspection or copying the document or recording.

B. If the attorney general has reasonable belief that a person has violated a provision of the Affordable Housing Act and that instituting a proceeding against that person would be in the public interest, the attorney general may bring a civil action on behalf of the state alleging a violation of the Affordable Housing Act. The action may be brought in the district court of the county in which the person alleged to have violated that act resides or in which the person's principal place of business is located. The attorney general shall not be required to post bond when seeking a temporary or permanent injunction in the civil action.

C. The attorney general may, in addition to or as an alternative to pursuing a civil action, as provided in this section, pursue criminal charges against a person for an alleged violation of the Affordable Housing Act under the applicable provisions of the Criminal Code.  1 Venue for any criminal action shall be in the judicial district where the violation occurred.

D. In a civil action brought under this section for an alleged violation of the Affordable Housing Act, if a court finds that a person willfully committed an act in violation of the Affordable Housing Act, the attorney general may seek to recover a civil penalty not exceeding the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation, in addition to any equitable relief imposed by the court.

E. As used in this section, “person” means an individual, including a municipal or county government employee or elected official, or a corporate entity, including any organization formed under state law to carry out business or other activities.