1. A. “Administrative complaint” means an allegation of an actual or potential violation of ethics laws in a sworn complaint, as fully described in Subsection D of Section 10-16G-2 NMSA 1978.
2. B. “Advisory opinions” are opinions written by the commission responding to questions presented by persons authorized under Paragraph 1 of Subsection A of Section 10-16G-8 NMSA 1978 about how laws within the commission’s jurisdiction apply to specific fact situations.
3. C. “Commission” means the State Ethics Commission.
4. D. “Ethics laws” means Article IX, Section 14 of the New Mexico Constitution and the statutes set out in Subsection A of Section 10-16G-9 NMSA 1978.
5. E. “Government agency” means an instrumentality of the United States or an agency of a state, county, or municipal government.
6. F. “Informal complaint” means an allegation of an actual or potential violation of ethics laws from a person, which is not an administrative complaint.
7. G. “Interagency agreement” means an agreement between the commission and another state or federal agency, including memoranda of understanding, joint powers agreements, and services agreements.
8. H. “Joint powers agreement” as used in this part, has the same meaning as it does in the Joint Powers Agreements Act, Section 1-11-1 NMSA 1978.
9. I. “Person” means any natural person or organization that is not a government agency.
10. J. “Referral” means any allegation of an actual or potential violation of ethics laws received by the Commission or its staff from a government agency that is not an administrative complaint.
11. K. Other words and phrases used in this part have the same meaning as found in 1.8.3.7 NMAC or the State Ethics Commission Act, Sections 10-16G-1 to -16 NMSA 1978.

[1.8.1.7 NMAC-N, 1/1/2020; A, 10/27/2020; A, 7/1/2023]