Section 6-4-9 - Tobacco settlement permanent fund; investment; distributionA. The "tobacco settlement permanent fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund is not a reserve fund of the state. The fund shall consist of money distributed to the state pursuant to the master settlement agreement entered into between tobacco product manufacturers and various states, including New Mexico, and executed November 23, 1998 or any money released to the state from a qualified escrow fund or otherwise paid to the state as authorized by Section 6-4-13 NMSA 1978, enacted pursuant to the master settlement agreement or as otherwise authorized by law. Money in the fund shall be invested by the state investment officer in accordance with the limitations in Article 12, Section 7 of the constitution of New Mexico. Income from investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Money in the fund shall not be expended for any purpose, except as provided in this section.B. In each fiscal year, an annual distribution shall be made from the tobacco settlement permanent fund to the tobacco settlement program fund of an amount equal to four and seven-tenths percent of the average of the year-end market values of the tobacco settlement permanent fund for the immediately preceding five calendar years. In the event that the actual amount distributed to the tobacco settlement program fund in a fiscal year is insufficient to meet appropriations from that fund for that fiscal year, the secretary of finance and administration shall proportionately reduce each appropriation accordingly.C. Money in the tobacco settlement permanent fund may be expended in the event that general fund balances, including all authorized revenues and transfers to the general fund and balances in the general fund operating reserve, the appropriation contingency fund and the tax stabilization reserve, will not meet the level of appropriations authorized from the general fund for a fiscal year. In that event, in order to avoid an unconstitutional deficit, the legislature may authorize a transfer from the tobacco settlement permanent fund to the general fund but only in an amount necessary to meet general fund appropriations. Laws 1999, ch. 207, § 1; 2000 (2nd S.S.), ch. 9, § 1; 2003, ch. 312, § 1; 2009, ch. 3, § 5; 2010, ch. 49, § 1; 2011, ch. 3, § 1; 2011, ch. 167, § 1; 2013, ch. 228, § 1; 2015, ch. 36, § 1; 2016 (2nd S.S.), ch. 4, § 1; 2017, ch. 2, § 6; 2017, ch. 80, § 1.Amended by 2024, c. 25,s. 1, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by 2021, c. 60,s. 1, eff. 6/18/2021.Amended by 2017, c. 80,s. 1, eff. 6/16/2017.Amended by 2017, c. 2,s. 6, eff. 6/16/2017.Amended by 2016SP1, c. 4,s. 1, eff. 1/4/2017.Amended by 2015, c. 36,s. 1, eff. 7/1/2015.Amended by 2013, c. 228,s. 1, eff. 7/1/2013.Amended by 2011, c. 167,s. 1, eff. 7/1/2011.