Section 18-6-8 - State historic preservation officer; appointment; qualifications; duties.
18-6-8. State historic preservation officer; appointment; qualifications; duties.
A. The "historic preservation division" is created within the cultural affairs department.
B. The state historic preservation officer shall be the director of the division and shall be hired by the secretary of cultural affairs with the consent of the governor. The position's qualifications shall be consistent with but not limited to the following:
(1) a graduate degree in American history, anthropology, architecture or historic preservation;
(2) at least five years of professional experience in American history, anthropology, architecture or historic preservation or any combination of these; or
(3) a substantial contribution through research and publication to the body of scholarly knowledge in the field of American history, anthropology, architecture or historic preservation or any combination of these.
C. The state historic preservation officer shall administer the Cultural Properties Act [18-6-1 NMSA 1978], including but not limited to being administrative head of all Cultural Properties Act functions assigned to the historic preservation division by law or executive order. In addition, the state historic preservation officer shall coordinate all duties performed by, and cooperate with, the committee, the secretary of cultural affairs and any other entities, public or private, involved with cultural properties.
D. The state historic preservation officer, in conjunction with the secretary of cultural affairs:
(1) shall provide staff to the committee;
(2) shall maintain the state register of cultural properties;
(3) may fund historic site surveys and may fund restorations;
(4) shall administer historic preservation tax benefit programs; and
(5) shall review state undertakings to determine their effect upon significant historic properties.