Section 60-14-4 - Powers and duties of division. - New Mexico Statutes

60-14-4. Powers and duties of division.

The division shall:  

A.     prepare, administer and grade examinations for licensure under the classification sought by each applicant;  

B.     issue licenses and certificates of qualification in accordance with the provisions of the Manufactured Housing Act;  

C.     establish and collect fees authorized to be collected by the division pursuant to the Manufactured Housing Act;  

D.     subject to the approval of the committee, adopt rules and regulations relating to the construction, repair, modification, installation, tie-down, hookup and sale of all manufactured homes, which regulations shall be uniform throughout the state and shall be enforced by inspectors for the division to insure minimum standards of safety within the state and any of its political subdivisions.  Ordinances of any political subdivision of New Mexico relating to gas, including natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas or synthetic natural gas; electricity; sanitary plumbing; and installation or sale of manufactured homes shall not be inconsistent with any rules, regulations, codes or standards adopted by the division pursuant to the Manufactured Housing Act;  

E.     adopt a budget and submit it to the regulation and licensing department for approval;  

F.     make an annual report to the superintendent of regulation and licensing concerning the operations of the division.  The report shall contain the division's recommendations for legislation that it deems necessary to improve the licensing and the ethical and technical practices of the manufactured housing industry and to protect the public welfare; 

G.     subject to the approval of the committee, adopt such rules, regulations, codes and standards as are necessary to carry out the provisions of the Manufactured Housing Act;  

H.     prepare a uniform manufacturer's warranty and require its adoption as a condition of licensure by all manufacturers of manufactured homes doing business in New Mexico;  

I.     subject to the approval of the committee, adopt by regulation the mobile home construction and safety standards contained in the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq., as amended;  

J.     subject to the approval of the committee, adopt by regulation the mobile home procedural and enforcement regulations, 24 C.F.R. 3282, as amended, promulgated by the department of housing and urban development pursuant to the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq., as amended;  

K.     issue permits and provide for a single inspection of every installation in New Mexico, regardless of the location;  

L.     subject to the approval of the committee, adopt regulations prescribing standards for the installation or use of electrical wiring; the installation of all fixtures, plumbing, consumer's gas pipe, including natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and synthetic natural gas, appliances and materials installed in the course of mechanical installation; and the construction, alteration, installation and repair of all manufactured homes intended for use in flood or mudslide areas designated pursuant to Section 3-18-7 NMSA 1978.  The regulations shall give due regard to standards prescribed by the federal insurance administration pursuant to regulation 1910, Subsection 7(d), 79 Stat. 670, Section 1361, 82 Stat. 587 and 82 Stat. 5757, all as amended, and shall give due regard to physical, climatic and other conditions peculiar to New Mexico;  

M.     conduct "inspector schools" so that each inspector under the division's jurisdiction is capable of giving a complete one-time inspection for the sufficiency of unit installation, construction and mechanical and electrical systems;  

N.     enter into cooperative agreements with federal agencies relating to manufactured housing and accept and use federal grants, matching funds or other financial assistance to further the purposes of the Manufactured Housing Act.  The division may enter into agreements with municipalities and counties to provide for the inspection of manufactured homes by employees of municipalities and counties, to be performed under the supervision and control of the division.  The division may allow all or a portion of the inspection fee collected by a local public body to be retained by the local public body.  The portion of the fee retained shall be determined by the division and shall be related to the completeness of the inspection performed;  

O.     administer oaths through any member of the division, the director or a hearing officer;  

P.     subject to the approval of the committee, adopt rules and regulations for the conducting of hearings and the presentation of views, consistent with the regulations promulgated by the department of housing and urban development, 24 C.F.R. 3282.151 through 3282.156, as amended;  

Q.     subject to the approval of the committee, adopt by regulation a requirement that dealers, repairmen and installers provide to consumers warranties on their product and work and prescribe by regulation minimum requirements of such warranties;  

R.     coordinate with and qualify inspectors for any multiple inspection program provided by the construction industries division of the regulation and licensing department for inspection of manufactured homes;  

S.     subject to the approval of the committee, adopt regulations, codes and standards for manufactured homes used for nonresidential purposes; provided such manufactured homes being used for nonresidential purposes on May 18, 1988 shall not be required to meet Uniform Building Code standards, except as to requirements for access to the handicapped, but manufactured homes being used for nonresidential purposes after May 18, 1988 shall be required to meet Uniform Building Code standards.  None of the provisions contained in this subsection shall apply to retailers licensed by the motor vehicle division of the taxation and revenue department; and  

T.     with the approval of the superintendent of regulation and licensing, employ such personnel as the director deems necessary for the exclusive purposes of investigating violations of the Manufactured Housing Act, enforcing Section 60-14-17 NMSA 1978 and instituting legal action in the name of the division to enforce the provisions of Section 60-14-19 NMSA 1978.