New Mexico Statutes Chapter 77. Animals and Livestock § 77-1B-5. Board powers and duties

A. adopt infrastructure and operating standards and may enforce those standards with consideration of the recommendations by the animal sheltering committee;

B. provide for inspections of animal shelters and euthanasia agencies;

C. provide for oversight, including oversight of licensing requirements, regulations and discipline, of veterinarians employed by local government animal shelters;

D. adopt methods and procedures acceptable for conducting emergency field euthanasia;

E. adopt, promulgate and revise rules necessary to carry out the provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act;

F. have authority to issue licenses and certificates pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act;

G. establish the types of licenses and certificates that may be issued pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act and establish criteria for issuing the licenses and certificates;

H. prescribe standards and approve curricula for educational programs that will be used to train and prepare persons for licensure or certification pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act;

I. implement continuing education requirements for licensees and certificate holders pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act;

J. conduct administrative hearings upon charges relating to violations of provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act or rules adopted pursuant to that act in accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act;

K. provide for all examinations and for issuance and renewal of licenses and certificates;

L. establish fees not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for licenses and certificates pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act;

M. establish committees as the board deems necessary to effect the provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act;

N. apply for injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act;

O. conduct national criminal background checks on applicants seeking licensure or certification under the Animal Sheltering Act;

P. keep a record of all proceedings;

Q. make an annual report to the legislature, including information on the total number of dogs and cats spayed and neutered and the average costs per surgery paid for from the statewide spay and neuter subaccount of the animal care and facility fund. The New Mexico department of agriculture shall provide for inclusion in the annual report the number of pet foods registered pursuant to Section 76-19A-10 NMSA 1978 for the current and previous year listed by registrant;

R. provide for the inspection of animal shelters and euthanasia agencies;

S. develop mechanisms to address complaints of misconduct at animal shelters and euthanasia agencies and noncompliance with the provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act or rules adopted pursuant to that act;

T. develop mechanisms to address complaints of licensee and certificate holder misconduct and noncompliance;

U. adopt standards for maintaining records concerning health care and disposition of animals; and

V. refer to the published association of shelter veterinarians standards in determining its regulations for animal shelters and euthanasia agencies.