A. All funds received by the council shall be received and disbursed directly by the council. Such funds shall be audited in accordance with the provisions of the Audit Act [12-6-1 to 12-6-14 NMSA 1978]. The council is not required to submit vouchers, purchase orders or contracts to the department of finance and administration as otherwise required by Section 6-5-3 NMSA 1978.

B. The council shall issue warrants against funds of the council in payment of its lawful obligations. The council shall provide its own warrants, purchase orders and contract forms as well as other supplies and equipment. All warrants shall be signed by a council member and one other person designated by the council.

C. The council shall designate banks where its funds are to be deposited, provided such banks have been qualified as depository banks for state funds.

History: Laws 1979, ch. 197, § 8; 1991, ch. 128, § 6.

The 1991 amendment, effective April 3, 1991, deleted "according to procedures approved by the director and subject to audit by the director in his discretion" at the end of the first sentence and inserted the second sentence in Subsection A and substituted "a council member and one other person" for "two officers or employees" in the third sentence in Subsection B.

Council to submit budget to budget division. — The legislature has approved a special source for the council's funds, separate and apart from the state's general funds, and has established the council's method of disbursal. The council nevertheless must submit its budget to the budget division for approval. This provision insures that the legislature is apprised accurately of council expenditures even though separate action on the council budget is not required at each session. 1987 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 87-44.