N.M. Stat. § 6-10-35
Fiscal agent of New Mexico; state checking depositories;
state depositories; designation by board of finance.
A. Except as otherwise provided by law, the state board of finance may designate a
bank or savings and loan association doing business in this state and having an
unimpaired capital and surplus of at least one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000)
as the "fiscal agent of New Mexico". The designation is subject to change, from time to
time, by the state board of finance; however, the board shall formulate and adopt
designation procedures, filed in accordance with the State Rules Act [Chapter 14,
Article 4 NMSA 1978], that shall be adhered to on each occasion of designation. The
board, after it has designated the fiscal agent, shall apprise the legislature of its action
and, in addition to the name of the designated fiscal agent, the communication shall
include a brief description of the designee's particular qualifications.
B. The bank or savings and loan association designated as the fiscal agent of New
Mexico shall enter into an agreement with the state, acting through the state board of
finance, for:
(1)
the collection for the state of all checks and other items received by the
state on any account;
(2)
the handling of the checking account of the state treasurer;
(3)
the handling of all transfers of money in connection with the sale or
retirement of bonds or obligations of the state or the purchase by the state of bonds or
other securities;
(4)
the investment of permanent or other funds of the state;
(5)
the safekeeping of bonds or other securities belonging to or held by the
state or any official of the state;
(6)
the rate of interest to be paid upon average daily balances of state funds;
and
(7)
acting as the agent of the state in fiscal matters generally, subject always
to the supervision and approval of the state board of finance.
C. The agreement shall contain the terms and conditions that are necessary, in the
judgment of the state board of finance, for the proper conduct of the fiscal affairs of the
state and the safekeeping of the money of the state.
D. The state board of finance shall require the fiscal agent of New Mexico to furnish
surety company bond or securities of the kinds specified by law for the security of
deposits of public money in an amount not less than two million five hundred thousand
dollars ($2,500,000) as security for the safekeeping of the money of the state and the
faithful performance of its duties as the fiscal agent. The state board of finance may
adjust the amount of bond or security from time to time, but in no event shall the bond or
security be in an amount less than two million five hundred thousand dollars
($2,500,000). No other bond or security is required of the fiscal agent for the securing of
funds deposited by the state treasurer in the fiscal agency account, and the state
treasurer is not liable upon the state treasurer's official bond on account of funds
deposited in the fiscal agency account when the account is so secured. Nothing in this
section shall prevent the bank or savings and loan association designated as fiscal
agent from also qualifying as a state depository pursuant to Chapter 6, Article 10 NMSA
1978.
E. Payment to the fiscal agent of New Mexico for services performed may be made
by the state board of finance upon warrants drawn by the secretary upon the state
treasury as provided by law for expenditure of state funds or by compensating balances
or a combination thereof. The legislature shall appropriate funds to the state board of
finance for this purpose annually.
F. The state board of finance may also designate, according to its adopted
designation procedures, not more than two other banks or savings and loan
associations doing business in this state as "state checking depositories" in which
money necessary to meet the current obligations of the state may be deposited in
temporary checking accounts. No bank or savings and loan association shall be so
designated unless it has an unimpaired capital and surplus of at least one hundred fifty
thousand dollars ($150,000). Not more than twenty percent of all the state's money on
hand shall be on deposit in all such checking accounts, including the checking account
with the fiscal agent of New Mexico, for any period of time longer than is required to
distribute the amount above twenty percent to applying, qualified depository banks or
savings and loan associations. The state board of finance shall require a designated
state checking depository to furnish surety company bond or securities of the kinds
specified by law for the security of deposits of public money in an amount established
by the board. Nothing in this section shall prevent a bank or savings and loan
association designated as a state checking depository from also qualifying as a state
depository pursuant to Chapter 6, Article 10 NMSA 1978, and nothing in this section
shall prohibit the state treasurer from transferring to out-of-state banks and keeping on
deposit with them funds necessary to pay interest upon and principal of those
outstanding bonds, debentures and certificates of indebtedness that, with the interest
coupons, were made payable at an out-of-state bank.
G. An authorized bank, savings and loan association or credit union desiring to
receive public money deposits may file with the board of finance having control of the
money its written proposal to receive the money on deposit, together with its agreement
to pay interest on daily balances of the deposits at the rate of interest fixed by the state
board of finance as prescribed in Section 6-10-30 NMSA 1978. The proposal shall
specify whether the deposit is desired as a time deposit. The board of finance shall, at
its next meeting after receipt of the proposal, consider the proposal, and, if it is in
accordance with Chapter 6, Article 10 NMSA 1978, the board shall thereupon notify the
bank or savings and loan association that upon its furnishing security as provided, it will
be designated as a "state depository" of public money in an amount to be fixed by the
board, which amount shall not exceed seventy-five percent of the capital and surplus of
the applicant bank or savings and loan association if the deposit is secured by surety
bond. If, after considering the proposal of a credit union and finding it in accordance with
Section 6-10-36 NMSA 1978, the board of finance may designate the credit union a
"state depository" of public money in an amount to be fixed by the board, which shall not
exceed that amount insured by an agency of the United States. Upon furnishing proper
bond or other security authorized by Chapter 6, Article 10 NMSA 1978, a certificate
shall be issued to the bank or savings and loan association by the board of finance
qualifying it as a depository of public money; and, if designated, a certificate shall be
issued to a credit union qualifying it as a depository of public money; provided that a
bank located outside the state, acting solely in the capacity of a paying bank for the
purpose of paying interest upon and principal of state obligations represented by bonds,
debentures and certificates of indebtedness and attached interest coupons, is not
required to furnish collateral security in excess of one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000) regardless of the amount of state public money on deposit.