N.M. Stat. § 61-2-7 (2026)

payments; bonds.
   A. There is created the "optometry fund."
   B. All funds received by the board and money collected under the Optometry Act
shall be deposited with the state treasurer, who shall place the same to the credit of the
optometry fund.

    C. All payments out of the optometry fund shall be made on vouchers issued and
signed by the secretary-treasurer of the board upon warrants drawn by the department
of finance and administration in accordance with the budget approved by that
department.

   D. All amounts in the optometry fund shall be subject to the order of the board and
shall be used only for the purpose of meeting necessary expenses incurred in:

      (1)   the performance of the provisions of the Optometry Act and the duties and
powers imposed thereby; and

      (2)    the promotion of optometric education and standards in this state within
the budgetary limits.

   E. All funds which may have accumulated to the credit of the board under any
previous law shall be transferred to the optometry fund and shall continue to be
available for use by the optometry board in accordance with the provisions of the
Optometry Act. All money unused at the end of the fiscal year shall not revert, but shall
remain in the optometry fund for use in accordance with the provisions of the Optometry
Act.

    F. The secretary-treasurer and any employee who handles money or who certifies
the receipt or disbursal of money received by the board shall, within thirty days after
election or employment by the board, execute a bond in accordance with the provisions
of the Surety Bond Act [10-2-13 to 10-2-16 NMSA 1978], conditioned on the faithful
performance of the duties of the office or position and on an accounting of all funds
coming into his hands.

     G. The secretary-treasurer shall make, at the end of each fiscal year, an itemized
report to the governor of all receipts and disbursements of the board for the prior fiscal
year, together with a report of the records and information required by the Optometry
Act. A copy of the annual report to the governor shall be presented to the board at its
first meeting in July of each year.

History: 1953 Comp., § 67-1-6, enacted by Laws 1973, ch. 353, § 6.

                                     ANNOTATIONS

Withdrawals from fund. — The regulation and licensing department may not withdraw
money from the optometry fund without approval from the board of optometry. 1988 Op.
Att'y Gen. No. 88-63.
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 70 C.J.S. Physicians, Surgeons, and
Other Health-Care Providers § 21.