As used in the Community Governance Attorney Act:

A. "acequia" means a political subdivision organized pursuant to Chapter 73, Article 2 or 3 NMSA 1978;

B. "colonia" means a community as defined in the Colonias Infrastructure Act [Chapter 6, Article 30 NMSA 1978];

C. "commission" means the community governance attorney commission;

D. "community governance attorney" means an attorney with a legal practice that is focused on the requirements and challenges faced by small political subdivisions and unincorporated communities, including the promulgation of land and water use ordinances, contracting and the collection or payment of taxes and fees;

E. "course of study" means a law student's legal education, including clinical and internship programs and preparation courses for the state bar examination;

F. "department" means the higher education department;

G. "fund" means the community governance attorney and conditional tuition waiver fund;

H. "land grant-merced" means a political subdivision organized pursuant to Chapter 49, Article 1 or 4 NMSA 1978;

I. "participant" means an individual who has applied to participate in, has been accepted into and has signed a contract agreeing to the terms of the program;

J. "program" means the community governance attorney and conditional tuition waiver program;

K. "secretary" means the secretary of higher education;

L. "university" means the university of New Mexico school of law; and

M. "waiver" means a loan to cover tuition, fees and a reasonable living stipend that is forgiven in whole or in part if the participant renders service as a community governance attorney.

History: Laws 2019, ch. 43, § 2.

Effective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 43, § 6 made Laws 2019, ch. 43 effective July 1, 2019.