1. A. The New Mexico outdoor recreation division of the department shall:

   1. (1) increase outdoor recreation-based economic development, tourism and ecotourism in the state;
   2. (2) recruit out-of-state-based outdoor recreation businesses to locate in New Mexico;
   3. (3) promote stewardship and preservation of New Mexico's unique environment and cultural assets;
   4. (4) promote education about and use of outdoor recreation assets to enhance public health; and
   5. (5) administer the outdoor equity grant program.
2. B. The department, the tourism department, the state land office, the Rio Grande trail commission, the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department, the department of game and fish [department of wildlife], the cultural affairs department, the Indian affairs department, the department of health and the department of transportation shall work in conjunction with the New Mexico outdoor recreation division to support the division's duties as they relate to the purposes of the respective departments and agencies.

3. C. For the purposes of administering functions of the New Mexico outdoor recreation division:

   1. (1) "ecotourism" means a form of tourism that involves visiting areas of ecological interest and is intended as a low-impact and often small-scale alternative to standard commercial tourism; and
   2. (2) "outdoor recreation" means a recreational activity that occurs outdoors in a natural environment, including the use of trails, the natural landscape, water or snow resources or other natural resources in the activity.

History: Laws 2019, ch. 117, § 2; 2020, ch. 65, § 3.

ANNOTATIONS

Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Laws 2025, ch. 9, § 11 provided that references in law to the department of game and fish shall be deemed to be references to the department of wildlife.

The 2020 amendment, effective May 20, 2020, required the New Mexico outdoor recreation division to administer the outdoor equity grant program; in the section heading, deleted "director" and added "definitions"; in Subsection A, added Paragraph A(5); and in Subsection C, in the introductory clause, after "For the purposes of", deleted "this section" and added "administering functions of the New Mexico outdoor recreation division".

Temporary provisions. — Laws 2020, ch. 65, § 6, provided that on May 20, 2020:

A. all functions, appropriations, money, records and files of the New Mexico youth conservation corps commission relating to the outdoor equity grant program shall be transferred to the New Mexico outdoor recreation division of the economic development department;

B. all contractual obligations of the New Mexico youth conservation corps commission relating to the outdoor equity grant program shall be binding on the New Mexico outdoor recreation division; and

C. the rules, orders and decisions of the New Mexico youth conservation corps commission relating to the outdoor equity grant program shall remain in effect until repealed or amended.