Joint ports of entry; intent; bilateral agreements.

A. It is the intent of the legislature to promote economic development and to streamline the collection of revenues and the regulation of the trucking industry by authorizing the secretary to enter into bilateral agreements for the location, erecting, staffing and operation of ports of entry jointly with contiguous jurisdictions. Because of the many cost efficiencies that can be achieved, the legislature intends that the secretary explore the possibility of entering into bilateral agreements for the joint operation of ports of entry with all neighboring states. The legislature recognizes that officials of the state of Arizona have offered to negotiate an arrangement by which two joint Arizona-New Mexico ports would be established, the first in New Mexico near Gallup and the second on interstate 10 in Arizona; the legislature intends that the secretary and the secretary of highway and transportation use the authority granted in this section to explore this opportunity to serve the public interest. The legislature recognizes that expenditures by the state highway and transportation department will be necessary to contribute New Mexico's share of the total cost for the construction of such facilities and finds that such expenditures are appropriate and in the public interest. B. The secretary may negotiate and enter into bilateral agreements with designated representatives of contiguous states to provide for the staffing and operation of jointly occupied ports of entry located within the boundaries of this state or an adjoining state. An agreement may allow employees of either state to collect fees, taxes, interest and penalties imposed by the rules, regulations or laws of either state for the operation of vehicles on the highways of either state and for the issuance of required permits. The secretary or the secretary's delegate may appoint employees of the adjoining state as peace officers of the department for the enforcement of tax, weight, size and load, equipment, safety and financial responsibility laws and regulations of this state relating to vehicles entering or exiting this state and may allow employees of the department to accept similar appointments with the adjoining states. Any agreement entered into under the authority of this section shall provide that an employee of the adjoining state appointed pursuant to this section shall not be compensated by this state or for the purpose of employment rights and benefits to be considered an employee of this state. An employee of the adjoining state must agree that he shall not be compensated by this state or for purposes of employment rights or benefits be considered an employee of this state. Employees of this state accepting appointments from the adjoining state shall not be by virtue of the appointment be considered employees of that state nor be compensated by that state or for purposes of employment rights or benefits be considered an employee of that state.