Section 9-2A-7 - Secretary; duties and general powers. - New Mexico Statutes

9-2A-7. Secretary; duties and general powers.

A.     The secretary is responsible to the governor for the operation of the department.  It is the secretary's duty to manage all operations of the department and to administer and enforce the laws with which he or the department is charged.   

B.     To perform his duties, the secretary has every power expressly enumerated in the law, whether granted to the secretary, the department or any division of the department, except when any division is explicitly exempted from the secretary's power by statute.  In accordance with these provisions, the secretary shall:   

(1)     except as otherwise provided in the Children, Youth and Families Department Act [9-2A-1 to 9-2A-16 NMSA 1978], exercise general supervisory and appointing power over all department employees, subject to applicable personnel laws and regulations;   

(2)     delegate power to subordinates as he deems necessary and appropriate, clearly delineating such delegated power and the limitations to that power;   

(3)     organize the department into organizational units as necessary to enable it to function most efficiently, subject to any provisions of law requiring or establishing specific organizational units;   

(4)     within the limitations of available appropriations and applicable laws, employ and fix the compensation of those persons necessary to discharge his duties;   

(5)     take administrative action by issuing orders and instructions, not inconsistent with law, to assure implementation of and compliance with the provisions of law for which administration or execution he is responsible and to enforce those orders and instructions by appropriate administrative action in the courts;   

(6)     conduct research and studies that will improve the operation of the department and the provision of services to the citizens of the state;   

(7)     provide courses of instruction and practical training for employees of the department and other persons involved in the administration of programs with the objectives of improving the operations and efficiency of administration and of promoting comprehensive, coordinated, culturally sensitive services that address the whole child;   

(8)     prepare an annual budget for the department;   

(9)     provide cooperation, at the request of administratively attached agencies and adjunct agencies, in order to:   

(a)     minimize or eliminate duplication of services and jurisdictional conflicts;   

(b)     coordinate activities and resolve problems of mutual concern; and   

(c)     resolve by agreement the manner and extent to which the department shall provide budgeting, recordkeeping and related clerical assistance to administratively attached agencies; and   

(10)     provide for surety bond coverage for all employees of the department as provided in the Surety Bond Act [10-2-13 to 10-2-16 NMSA 1978].  The department shall pay the costs of such bonds.   

C.     The secretary may apply for and receive, with the governor's approval, in the name of the department, any public or private funds, including United States government funds, available to the department to carry out its programs, duties or services.   

D.     The secretary may make and adopt such reasonable and procedural rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the department and its divisions.  No rule or regulation promulgated by the director of any division in carrying out the functions and duties of the division shall be effective until approved by the secretary.  Unless otherwise provided by statute, no regulation affecting any person or agency outside the department shall be adopted, amended or repealed without a public hearing on the proposed action before the secretary or a hearing officer designated by the secretary.  The public hearing shall be held in Santa Fe unless otherwise permitted by statute.  Notice of the subject matter of the regulation, the action proposed to be taken, the time and place of the hearing, the manner in which interested persons may present their views and the method by which copies of the proposed regulation or proposed amendment or repeal of an existing regulation may be obtained shall be published once at least thirty days prior to the hearing date in a newspaper of general circulation and mailed at least thirty days prior to the hearing date to all persons who have made a written request for advance notice of hearing.  All rules and regulations shall be filed in accordance with the State Rules Act [Chapter 14, Article 4 NMSA 1978].   

E.     If the secretary certifies to the secretary of finance and administration and gives contemporaneous notice of such certification through the human services register that the department has insufficient state funds to operate any of the programs it administers and that reductions in services or benefit levels are necessary, the secretary may engage in interim rulemaking. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the State Rules Act, interim rulemaking shall be conducted pursuant to Subsection D of this section, except:   

(1)     the period of notice of public hearing shall be fifteen days;   

(2)     the department shall send individual notices of the interim rulemaking and of the public hearing to affected providers and beneficiaries;   

(3)     rules and regulations promulgated under this subsection shall be in effect not less than five days after the public hearing;   

(4)     rules and regulations promulgated under this subsection shall not be in effect for more than ninety days; and   

(5)     if final rules and regulations are necessary to replace the interim rules and regulations, the department shall give notice of intent to promulgate final rules and regulations at the time of notice herein. The final rules and regulations shall be promulgated not more than forty-five days after the public hearing filed in accordance with the State Rules Act.