New Mexico Statutes Chapter 77. Animals and Livestock § 77-2-3. New Mexico livestock board; scope; composition; qualifications; terms; meetings

A. The New Mexico livestock board is established to govern the livestock industry of the state in the manner required by law.

B. The New Mexico livestock board shall be composed of nine members appointed by the governor and adequately representing the state livestock industry. Seven of the nine members must raise and own cattle or raise and own sheep in this state and be residents of this state. Two members of the board shall not raise or own cattle or sheep but shall be appointed to represent the general public. The two public members also shall be residents of New Mexico. The majority of the members of the board at any given time shall, however, be primarily engaged in the business of raising and owning cattle in this state. The board shall be bipartisan, but no more than five members of the board shall belong to the same political party.

C. The term of office of each member of the New Mexico livestock board shall be six years; provided, that of the members of the board to be appointed after the passage and approval of this act, two shall be appointed for a term of two years, two for a term of four years and three for a term of six years and, upon the expiration of the terms of such appointments, the successors shall be appointed for the full term of six years.

D. The New Mexico livestock board shall elect from their number a chairman, vice-chairman and secretary. The board shall hold two regular meetings in each year, one in June and the other in December. Special meetings may be called by the chairman or by the vice-chairman in the event that the chairman is absent from the state or because the chairman is physically incapacitated or by a majority of the members of the board.