1. A. The chief of staff shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and act consistent with its goals, decisions and directives.

2. B. The chief of staff shall:

   1. (1) be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the agency;
   2. (2) ensure that the agency carries out all duties and responsibilities with which it is charged by law;
   3. (3) supervise and direct the staff and operations of the agency;

   4. (4) assign such personnel as are necessary to:

      1. (a) serve as public interest advocacy staff to the commission in the regulation of electric, natural gas, renewable energy sources, telecommunications and water and wastewater systems as provided by law. The staff may present testimony and evidence, cross-examine witnesses and partner and collaborate with other stakeholders in furtherance of the advocacy staff's views on how the commission should fulfill its responsibility to balance the public interest, consumer interest and investor interest;
      2. (b) serve as advisory staff to advise and assist the commission on any matter before the commission; provided that the advisory staff may have expertise in law, engineering, economics or other professional or technical disciplines;
      3. (c) receive and investigate nondocketed consumer complaints and assist consumers in resolving, in a fair and timely manner, complaints against a person under the authority of the commission, including mediation and other methods of alternative dispute resolution; provided that assistance pursuant to this subparagraph does not include legal representation of a private complainant in an adjudicatory proceeding;
      4. (d) consult with other state agencies as needed to ensure fair and timely resolution of consumer complaints;
      5. (e) advise the commission on how to maximize public participation in commission proceedings, including ways to eliminate language, disability and other barriers;
      6. (f) identify, research and advise the commission on consumer issues;
      7. (g) assist the commission in the development and implementation of consumer policies and programs;
      8. (h) record, for the purpose of determining general concerns of consumers, all complaints with regard to quality or quantity of service provided by a regulated entity or its competitors;
      9. (i) review disputes between telecommunications providers;
      10. (j) investigate each complaint regarding a telecommunications provider on an expedited basis;
      11. (k) address other telecommunications-related duties as required by the New Mexico Telecommunications Act [Chapter 63, Article 9A NMSA 1978] and the commission;
      12. (l) recommend telecommunications-related actions to the commission;
      13. (m) record the judgments, rules, orders and other proceedings of the commission and make a complete index to the judgments, rules, orders and other proceedings;
      14. (n) issue and attest all processes issuing from the commission and affix the seal of the commission to them;
      15. (o) preserve the seal and other property belonging to the agency;
      16. (p) perform other agency duties and responsibilities; and
      17. (q) carry out the provisions of the Pipeline Safety Act [70-3-11 to 70-3-20 NMSA 1978];
   5. (5) organize the agency into organizational units as necessary to enable it to function most efficiently; and
   6. (6) appoint a professional engineer who shall have at least five years' experience in the design, construction, maintenance and operation of oil or gas pipeline facilities, who shall be designated pipeline safety engineer for the purposes of the Pipeline Safety Act.

3. C. The chief of staff may:

   1. (1) employ such professional, technical and clerical assistance as is necessary to assist the agency and commission in performing their powers and duties;
   2. (2) hire on a temporary, term or contract basis such other experts or staff as the commission requires for a particular case;
   3. (3) retain competent attorneys to give advice, counsel and representation in all legal matters of the commission and agency;
   4. (4) set minimum educational and experience requirements for all staff positions;
   5. (5) conduct research and studies to improve the agency's operations or the provision of services to the residents of New Mexico;
   6. (6) apply for and accept grants and donations in the name of the state to carry out the agency's powers and duties; and
   7. (7) enter into contracts on behalf of the agency.

History: Laws 2026, ch. 64, § 14.

ANNOTATIONS

Effective dates. — Laws 2026, ch. 64 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective May 20, 2026, 90 days after adjournment of the legislature.