New Mexico Statutes Chapter 68. Timber § 68-5-7. Prescribed burn manager certification

A. The division shall create a prescribed burn manager certification program accessible to private landowners and private landowners' agents, contractors or legally authorized designees who conduct prescribed burns. The certification program shall include training, which shall be provided by the extension service, on all relevant aspects of prescribed burn, including legal requirements, safety, weather, fire behavior, smoke management, prescribed burn techniques, public relations, planning and contingencies.

B. The department shall adopt rules to create the prescribed burn manager certification program, including the training and certification of certified prescribed burn managers; training components and engagement of subject matter experts; application processes; qualification for and terms and durations of certification; types of certification, if applicable; oversight of the program; grounds and processes for renewal, suspension and revocation of certifications; and application, certification and renewal fees.

C. The department, by rule, may establish a fee at an amount not to exceed the amount required to recover costs that the division incurs in providing certification and processing applications for persons seeking certification as certified prescribed burn managers pursuant to this section. All proceeds from that fee shall be deposited in the forest land protection revolving fund.

D. Nothing in this section may be construed as creating a mandatory prescribed burn manager certification requirement to conduct prescribed burning.