A. There is created the "governor's commission on disability" consisting of fifteen members, nine of whom shall be appointed by the governor. The six remaining members shall be the director of the vocational rehabilitation division of the public education department, the secretary of labor or the secretary's designee, the director of the behavioral health services division of the human services department, the secretary of children, youth and families or the secretary's designee, the secretary of aging and long-term services or the secretary's designee and the secretary of human services or the secretary's designee. Initially, three members shall be appointed for terms ending December 31, 1978, three members for terms ending December 31, 1980 and three members for terms ending December 31, 1982. Thereafter, appointments shall be for six years expiring on December 31 of even-numbered years. Appointed members shall be appointed from different geographic areas of the state and from the major disability services in the state. Appointed members shall include individuals with disabilities, representatives of government and private enterprise, parents or guardians of individuals with disabilities and professionals in, or those who are interested in, service for individuals with disabilities. Not more than five of the members appointed by the governor shall be of the same political party.

B. A majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. The commission shall meet at least twice a year and shall annually elect a chair and a vice chair.

C. The commission shall be primarily concerned with those individuals with disabilities who have a condition that, regardless of its physical or mental origin, constitutes a substantial occupational disadvantage.

History: 1953 Comp., § 59-15-1, enacted by Laws 1973, ch. 349, § 1; 1977, ch. 198, § 1; 1979, ch. 34, § 1; 2004, ch. 20, § 1; 2007, ch. 325, § 8.

Cross references. — For admission of disabled to state educational institutions without charge other than tuition, see 22-14-16 NMSA 1978.

For employment of blind persons, see 22-14-24 NMSA 1978 et seq.

The 2007 amendment, effective June 15, 2007, changed "department of health" to "human services department" and changed "secretary of aging" to "secretary of aging and long-term services".

The 2004 amendment, effective May 19, 2004, changed the name of the "governor's committee on concerns of the handicapped" to the "governor's commission on disability", and increased the members from 13 to 15 by adding the secretary of children, youth and families and the director of the state agency on aging [aging and long-term services department].

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — What constitutes handicap under state legislation forbidding job discrimination on account of handicap, 82 A.L.R.4th 26.