A. Any person violating any provision of the Public School Finance Act is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

Attorney's Note

Under the New Mexico Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
petty misdemeanorup to 6 monthsup to $500
For details, see N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-19-1

Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 22-8-42

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.

B. Any person diverting or expending any public school money contrary to the approved budget is, in addition to being subject to any other civil or criminal action, liable along with his sureties to the state for the amount diverted or expended.

C. Any person diverting any public school funds from the purpose for which the funds were raised or acquired, or embezzling public school funds, shall be removed from office by the court imposing the criminal penalty.

D. Any person falsifying any record, account or report required to be kept or filed pursuant to the Public School Finance Act or knowingly using any money budgeted or appropriated for public school use or for any other purposes than that provided in the appropriation or budget is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and shall, in addition to all other civil or criminal penalties, forfeit his office or employment.

E. Legal proceedings for violation of the Public School Finance Act shall be instituted by the state superintendent [secretary].

F. A certified school instructor or certified school administrator guilty of any of the violations provided by this section shall, upon conviction, have his certificate revoked by the state board [department].

G. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prevent the enforcement of any provision of the Public School Finance Act by means of mandamus or injunction.