New Mexico § 16-6-4 - Powers and duties of commission; annual fair; exhibits; premiums

§ 16-6-4. Powers and duties of commission; annual fair; exhibits; premiums

A. The state fair commission shall have power and authority to hold annually on suitable

grounds a state fair at which shall be exhibited livestock, poultry, vegetables, fruits,

grains, grasses and other farm products, minerals, ores and other mining exhibits,

mining machinery and farm implements and all other things that the commissioners or

a majority thereof deem consonant with the purposes of a state fair for the purposes

of advancing the agricultural, horticultural and stock raising, mining, mechanical

and industrial pursuits of the state and shall have the care of its property and be

entrusted with the entire direction of its business and its financial affairs consistent

with the provisions of Sections 16-6-15 and 16-6-16 NMSA 1978 . B. The state fair commission or its designees, among other duties, shall: (1) prepare, adopt, publish and enforce all necessary rules for the management of

the New Mexico state fair and its meetings and exhibitions and for the guidance of

its officers, employees and exhibitors; (2) determine the duties, compensation and tenure of office of all of its officers

and employees and may remove from office or discharge any person appointed or employed

by it at will; (3) have the power to appoint all necessary fairgrounds police to keep order on the

grounds and in the buildings of the state fair. The fairgrounds police so appointed shall be vested with the same authority for

such purposes as peace officers; (4) have the power to charge entrance fees and admissions and lease stalls, stands

and restaurant sites, give prizes and premiums, arrange entertainments and do all

things that by the commission may be considered proper for the conduct of the state

fair not otherwise prohibited by law; (5) prohibit the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages on the grounds of the

state fair except in controlled access areas within the licensed premises; (6) meet with the director of the alcohol and gaming division of the regulation and

licensing department and other parties in interest to designate the controlled access

areas on which the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages may be permitted; (7) annually request funding to support the operations and maintenance of the African

American performing arts center and exhibit hall housed on the state fairgrounds;

and (8) provide staff to support the operations and maintenance of the African American

performing arts center and exhibit hall. C. As used in this section, “ alcoholic beverages ” means distilled or rectified spirits, potable alcohol, brandy, whiskey, rum, gin

and aromatic bitters bearing the federal internal revenue strip stamps or any similar

alcoholic beverage, including blended or fermented beverages, dilutions or mixtures

of one or more of the foregoing containing more than one-half of one percent alcohol,

but excluding medicinal bitters.