A. The "board of trustees of the New Mexico veterans museum" is created. The board shall consist of eleven voting members who are residents of New Mexico. One of the voting members shall be the secretary of veterans' services or that secretary's designated representative. Ten voting members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. In making the appointments, the governor shall appoint at least three members from each congressional district and give due consideration to the ethnic and geographic diversity of the state. No more than five of the ten appointed members shall be from the same political party. At least five of the members shall be armed forces veterans, one each from:

(1) the New Mexico national guard;

(2) the United States army;

(3) the United States navy;

(4) the United States air force; and

(5) the United States marine corps.

B. Of the initial appointees, four members shall be appointed for four-year terms, four members shall be appointed for three-year terms and two members shall be appointed for two-year terms. All subsequent appointed members shall be appointed for four-year terms.

C. A majority of the board members currently serving shall constitute a quorum at any meeting or hearing.

D. Any appointed member failing to attend three consecutive meetings after receiving proper notice shall be recommended for removal by the governor. The governor may also remove any appointed member of the board for neglect of any duty required by law, for incompetency, for unprofessional conduct or for violating any provisions of the Veterans Museum Act. If a vacancy occurs on the board, the governor shall appoint another member to complete the unexpired term.

E. The secretary of cultural affairs shall be an ex-officio nonvoting member of the board.

F. The governor shall designate the president of the board, who shall serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor.

G. Appointed members of the board are entitled to per diem and mileage as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act [10-8-1 to 10-8-8 NMSA 1978] but shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.

History: Laws 2009, ch. 33, § 4.

Effective dates. — Laws 2009, ch. 33, § 10 made Laws 2009, ch. 33 § 4 effective July 1, 2009.