N.M. Stat. § 61-15-4 — NM Code / Chapter 61 / Article 15 / Section 61-15-4
§ 61-15-4. Powers and duties of the board
Status: in_force

A. The board shall hold at least four regular meetings each year. Any board member failing to attend three consecutive regular meetings is automatically removed as a member of the board. A majority of the board members constitutes a quorum.

B. A board member may participate in a meeting of the board by means of a conference telephone or other similar communications equipment when it is otherwise difficult or impossible for the member to attend the meeting in person if:

(1) each member participating by conference telephone can be identified when speaking;

(2) all participants are able to hear each other at the same time; and

(3) members of the public attending the meeting are able to hear all board members who speak during the hearing.

C. The board may establish committees to carry out the provisions of the Architectural Act. The board or any committee of the board shall have the power to subpoena any witness, to administer oaths and to take testimony concerning matters within its jurisdiction. It is within the jurisdiction of the board to determine and prescribe by rules promulgated in accordance with the State Rules Act the professional and technical qualifications necessary for the practice of architecture in New Mexico. The board shall adopt and have an official seal, which shall be affixed to all certificates of registration granted, and shall not make rules inconsistent with law.

D. The board may offer, engage in and promote educational and other activities as it deems necessary to fulfill its duty to promote the public welfare.

E. The board may, for the purpose of protecting the citizens of New Mexico and promoting current architectural knowledge and practice, promulgate rules establishing continuing education requirements as a condition of registration renewal.

F. Members of the board shall receive per diem and mileage as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance. All expenses certified by the board as properly and necessarily incurred in the discharge of its duties, including authorized reimbursement and necessary expenses incident to cooperation with like boards of other states, shall be paid by the state treasurer out of the “fund of the board of examiners for architects” on the warrant of the secretary of finance and administration issued upon vouchers signed by the chair or the chair's designee; provided, however, that at no time shall the total warrants issued exceed the total amount of funds accumulated under the Architectural Act. All money derived from the operation of the Architectural Act, not including fines, shall be deposited with the state treasurer, who shall keep the money in the fund of the board of examiners for architects.

G. The board shall by rule provide for the examinations required for registration. The board shall keep a complete record of all examinations.

H. Upon application for registration, upon a prescribed form and upon payment by the applicant of a fee set by the board, the board shall consider the application and shall issue a certificate of registration as an architect to any person who submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the person is fully qualified to practice architecture.

I. It is the duty of the board to report to the district attorney of the district where the offense was committed any criminal violation of the Architectural Act.

J. The board may deny, review, suspend or revoke a registration to practice architecture and may censure, fine, reprimand and place on probation and stipulation any architect in accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act for any cause as stated in the Architectural Act.

K. The board, in cooperation with the state board of licensure for professional engineers and professional surveyors and the board of landscape architects, shall create a joint standing committee to be known as the “joint practice committee”. In order to safeguard life, health and property and to promote public welfare, the purpose of the committee is to promote and develop the highest professional standards in design, planning and construction and the resolution of ambiguities concerning the professions. The composition of the committee and its duties and powers shall be in accordance with identical resolutions adopted by each board.

L. Pursuant to the notice and hearing requirements of the Uniform Licensing Act, the board may impose a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for each violation on a person found to be engaging in the practice of architecture without being registered pursuant to the Architectural Act. Civil penalties shall be deposited to the credit of the current school fund as provided in Article 12, Section 4 of the constitution of New Mexico .