Section 19-1-2.1 - Confidential information; penalty. - New Mexico Statutes

19-1-2.1. Confidential information; penalty.

The provisions of any confidential contract, reserve data or other confidential information required to be submitted under any lease or rule or regulation of the commissioner of public lands, and which is clearly marked as confidential by the person from whom submission is required, shall be held confidential by the commissioner, his employees and his agents. Any person who willfully violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent statistical information from being derived from the information available to the commissioner or its use in public hearings before the commissioner or in appeals from decisions of the commissioner for which such information is essential. This section shall not be construed to protect any information, even if otherwise considered confidential under this section, if such information is also available from public, non-confidential sources. Notwithstanding the provisions of any act requiring meetings of public bodies to be open, the commissioner may close that part of any meeting where confidential information covered by this section is discussed.