Summary:

 House Bill 519 (HB 519) creates the Board of Directors (Board) of the African American Performing Arts Center (Center); provides that the Board is to operate, maintain and staff the Center and exhibit hall in consultation with the Cultural Affairs Department; transfers functions, personnel, appropriations, money, records, equipment, supplies, other property and contractual obligations.  

Legislation Overview:

 House Bill 519 (HB 519) amends Section 16-6-4 NMSA 1978, creating the Board of Directors (Board) of the African American Performing Arts Center (Center).

The responsibilities of the State Fair Commission related to the Center are removed.

Section 16-6-32 NMSA 1978 is recompiled as a new section of Chapter 18 NMSA 1978 and is amended to create the Board of the Center, which is to be administratively attached to the Cultural Affairs Department (Department).

The Board is to operate, maintain, staff, and request funding for the operation, maintenance and staffing of the Center in consultation with the Department.

On the effective date of this act, the Center and exhibit hall, including the functions, personnel, appropriations, money, records, equipment, supplies and other property of the Center and exhibit hall, is to be transferred from the State Fair Commission to the Board of the Center. 

On the effective date of this act, money held by or for the Center and exhibit hall that does not revert to the General Fund or another fund on June 30, 2025 are to be transferred to the Board of the Center to operate, maintain and staff the Center and exhibit hall. 

Contractual obligations of the Center and exhibit hall will be binding on the Board.




 

Current Law:

 The State Fair Commission (Commission) is currently responsible for the African American Performing Arts Center, and resources for this purpose reside with this Commission. 

Amendments:

 Amended March 18, 2025 in SIRC

SIRCa/HB 519: The Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee amendment to House Bill 519 makes the following changes:

1. On page 6, line 10, after “center” strike “in” and insert in lieu thereof a period. 
2. On page 6, strike line 11 in its entirety.