NMSA 1978, § 27-6A-1 Short title
27-6A-1. Short title
Chapter 27, Article 6A NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Low Income Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Service Assistance Act".
Laws 1993, ch. 206, § 1; 2024, ch. 39, § 108.
Low Income Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Service Assistance
NMSA 1978 ch. 27, art. 6A
in effectNMSA 1978, § 27-6A-2 Purpose
27-6A-2. Purpose
It is the purpose of the Low Income Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Service Assistance Act:
A. to assure that water, sewer or solid waste user rate increases do not force many low-income individuals to discontinue necessary water, sewer or solid waste service; and
B. to increase the availability or affordability of basic water, sewer and solid waste service to low-income individuals by providing assistance to meet the cost of basic water, sewer and solid waste service.
Laws 1993, ch. 206, § 2.
NMSA 1978, § 27-6A-3 Definitions
27-6A-3. Definitions
As used in the Low Income Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Service Assistance Act:
A. "authority" or "department" means the health care authority; and
B. "utility" means any individual, firm, partnership, company, district, including solid waste district, water and sanitation district and special district, cooperative, association, public or private corporation, lessee, trustee or receiver appointed by any court, municipality and municipal utility as defined in the Municipal Code [3-1-1 NMSA 1978], incorporated county or county that may or does own, operate, lease or control any plant, property or facility for:
(1) the supply, storage, distribution or furnishing of water to or for the public;
(2) the supply and furnishing of sanitary sewer service to or for the public; or
(3) the supply and furnishing of collection, transportation, treatment or disposal of solid waste to or for the public. "Utility" does not include a public utility subject to the jurisdiction of the public regulation commission.
Laws 1993, ch. 206, § 3; 2024, ch. 39, § 109.
NMSA 1978, § 27-6A-4 Low income assistance rates
27-6A-4. Low income assistance rates
A utility may provide assistance in the form of reduced or subsidized rates to or on behalf of those individuals who meet the eligibility criteria of one or more need-based assistance programs administered by the department and who are not living in nursing homes or intermediate care facilities or not living in circumstances that do not require them to pay, directly or indirectly, for water, sewer or solid waste service.
Laws 1993, ch. 206, § 4.
NMSA 1978, § 27-6A-5 Authority cooperation
27-6A-5. Authority cooperation
Subject to state and federal statutes and rules governing the sharing of confidential information, the authority shall cooperate with a participating utility in identifying those persons eligible for assistance in accordance with the Low Income Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Service Assistance Act.
Laws 1993, ch. 206, § 5; 2024, ch. 39, § 110.
Source: New Mexico Compilation Commission (nmonesource.com)URL: https://nmonesource.com/nmos/nmsa-unanno/en/item/18527/index.doFetched: 10/20/2026