The money appropriated by Sections 6-7-1 and 6-7-2 NMSA 1978 shall be expended for disaster relief for any disaster declared by the governor to be of such magnitude as to be beyond local control and requiring the resources of the state. The funds shall be expended by the governor or any agent or agency designated by him for those purposes, either as a state project or for securing matching federal funds. The money shall be paid out upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration upon vouchers approved by the governor or an agent or agency designated by him for that purpose. As used in this section, "state project" means an expenditure by a state agency to provide those resources and services necessary to avoid or minimize economic or physical harm until a situation becomes stabilized and again under local self-support and control. "State project" may include any expenditure on a temporary, emergency basis for lodging, sheltering, health care, food, any transportation or shipping necessary to protect lives or public property; or for any other action necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare.

History: 1953 Comp., § 11-7-3, enacted by Laws 1955, ch. 185, § 3; 1978, ch. 67, § 1; 1999, ch. 140, § 1; 1978 Comp., § 6-7-3, recompiled as § 12-11-25 by Laws 2005, ch. 22, § 4.

Recompilations. — Laws 2005, ch. 22, § 4 recompiled 6-7-3 NMSA 1978 as 12-11-25 NMSA 1978, effective July 1, 2005.

The 1999 amendment, effective June 18, 1999, substituted "money" for "moneys" and "Sections 6-7-1 and 6-7-2 NMSA 1978" for "Sections 11-7-1 and 11-7-2 NMSA 1953" in the first sentence, substituted "The money" for "Said moneys" in the third sentence, and added the fourth and fifth sentences.