N.M. Stat. § 44-9-4
Investigation by the attorney general; delegation; civil
action.
A. The attorney general shall diligently investigate suspected violations of Section
44-9-3 NMSA 1978, and if the attorney general finds that a person has violated or is
violating that section, the attorney general may bring a civil action against that person
pursuant to the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act.
B. The attorney general may in appropriate cases delegate the authority to
investigate or to bring a civil action to the state agency or political subdivision to which a
false claim was made, and when this occurs, the state agency or political subdivision
shall have every power conferred upon the attorney general pursuant to the Fraud
Against Taxpayers Act. If the attorney general has delegated authority to a state agency
or political subdivision, all references to the attorney general in the Fraud Against
Taxpayers Act shall apply to the delegee.