New Mexico § 76-5-5 - Duties and powers of the board

§ 76-5-5. Duties and powers of the board

It shall be the primary function of the board [New Mexico department of agriculture]

to determine the critically infested grasshopper and other range pest areas within

New Mexico and to formulate and carry out plans for the control of infestation. In the performance of its primary function, the board [department] shall: A. cooperate with all agencies of the United States, which are interested in the control

of grasshoppers and other range pests; B. coordinate and utilize the available facilities and personnel of the New Mexico

college of agriculture and mechanic arts [New Mexico state university] extension service; C. hire such additional help and facilities as may be necessary to carry out the purpose

of this act; D. buy, rent, lease or otherwise provide and dispose of equipment, materials and supplies

necessary to carry out the purpose of this act; E. adopt rules and regulations consistent with the purpose of this act including: (1) the method and manner of rendering aid and assistance; (2) the care, use and preservation of equipment, materials and supplies purchased

by the board [New Mexico department of agriculture]; (3) the keeping of accounts and records of the board's [New Mexico department of agriculture]

activities; and (4) a classification of all insects, including grasshoppers, coming within the meaning

of the term “range pests”; F. supervise and allocate the expenditures from the “grasshopper and other range pest

control fund”; provided, however, all vouchers representing payments from the grasshopper

and other range pest control fund shall be signed by the chairman of the grasshopper

and other range pest control board [director of the New Mexico department of agriculture];

and G. compromise, settle or pay just claims arising from negligent operations under the

Grasshopper and Other Range Pest Control Act, and prescribe a procedure for the preservation

and proof of claims.