AI-assisted research summary: The secretary runs the department, enforces the laws assigned to the department, and has listed management and rulemaking powers, with some actions requiring governor approval or a public hearing.
9-22-6. Secretary; duties and general powers. A. The secretary is responsible to the governor for the operation of the department. It is the duty of the secretary to manage the operations of the department and to administer and enforce the laws with which the secretary or the department is charged. B. The secretary has every power expressly enumerated in the laws, whether granted to the secretary or to a division of the department, except where authority conferred upon a division in the department is explicitly exempted from the authority of the secretary by statute. In accordance with these provisions, the secretary shall: (1) except as otherwise provided in the Veterans' Services Department Act, exercise general supervisory and appointing authority over all department employees, subject to applicable personnel laws and rules; (2) delegate authority to subordinates as the secretary deems necessary and appropriate, clearly delineating the delegated authority and its limitations; (3) organize the department into organizational units that the secretary deems will enable it to function most efficiently, subject to 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 the persons necessary to discharge the duties of the secretary; (5) take administrative action by issuing orders and instructions, not inconsistent with the law, to ensure implementation of and compliance with the provisions of law with the administration or execution of which the secretary is responsible and to enforce the orders and instructions by appropriate administrative action or actions in the courts; (6) conduct research and studies that will improve the operations 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 objective of improving the operations and efficiency of the administration; (8) prepare an annual budget of the department; (9) provide cooperation, at the request of heads of administratively attached agencies, 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, record keeping and related clerical assistance to administratively attached agencies; and (10) except as otherwise provided by law, with the approval of the governor, appoint a "director" for each division established within the department. C. The secretary may apply for and receive, in the name of the department and with the approval of the governor, public or private funds, including United States government funds, available to the department to carry out its programs, duties or services. D. Where functions of departments overlap, or a function assigned to one department could better be performed by another department, the secretary may recommend appropriate legislation to the next session of the legislature for its approval. E. The secretary may make and adopt reasonable rules necessary to carry out the duties of the department and its divisions. A rule promulgated by the director of a division in carrying out the functions and duties of the division shall not be effective until approved by the secretary. Unless otherwise provided by statute, a rule affecting a person or agency outside the department shall not be adopted, amended or repealed without a public hearing on the proposed action before the secretary or a hearing officer designated by him. The public hearing shall be held in Santa Fe unless otherwise permitted by statute. Notice of the subject matter of the rule, the action proposed to be taken, the time and place of the hearing, the manner in which an interested person may present a view and the method by which copies of the proposed rule, amendment or repeal of an existing rule 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 before the hearing date to a person who has submitted a written request for advance notice of hearing. A rule shall be filed in accordance with the State Rules Act [Chapter 14, Article 4 NMSA 1978]. History: Laws 2004, ch. 19, § 6.