§ 10-14-6 — Plans for coverage of employees of political subdivisions

A. Each political subdivision of the state is hereby authorized to submit for approval by the state agency a plan for extending the benefits of Title 2 [II] of the Social Security Act, in conformity with applicable provisions of such act, to employees of such political subdivision. Each such plan and any amendment thereof shall be approved by the state agency if it finds that such plan, or such plan as amended, is in conformity with such requirements as are provided in regulations of the state agency, except that no such plan shall be approved unless: (1) it is in conformity with the requirements of the Social Security Act and with the agreement entered into under Section 10-14-3 NMSA 1978; (2) it provides that all services which constitute employment as defined in Section 10-14-2 NMSA 1978 and are performed in the employ of the political subdivision by employees thereof, shall be covered by the plan, except that it may exclude services performed by individuals to whom Section 218(c)3(C) [Section 218(c)(3)(C)] of the Social Security Act is applicable; (3) it specifies the source or sources from which the funds necessary to make the payments required by Paragraph (1) of Subsection C and by Subsection D of this section are expected to be derived and contains reasonable assurance that such sources will be adequate for such purpose; (4) it provides for such methods of administration of the plan by the political subdivision as are found by the state agency to be necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the plan; (5) it provides that the political subdivision will make such reports, in such form and containing such information, as the state agency may from time to time require, and comply with such provisions as the state agency or the secretary of health and human services may from time to time find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports; and (6) it authorizes the state agency to terminate the plan in its entirety, in the discretion of the state agency, if it finds that there has been a failure to comply substantially with any provision contained in such plan, such termination to take effect at the expiration of such notice and on such conditions as may be provided by regulations of the state agency, and may be consistent with the provisions of the Social Security Act. B. The state agency shall not finally refuse to approve a plan submitted by a political subdivision under Subsection A of this section, and shall not terminate an approved plan, without reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to the political subdivision affected thereby. C. (1) Each political subdivision as to which a plan has been approved under this section shall pay into the contribution fund, with respect to wages, as defined in Section 10-14-2 NMSA 1978, at such time or times as the state agency may by regulation prescribe, contributions in the amounts and at the rates specified in the applicable agreement entered into by the state agency under Section 10-14-3 NMSA 1978. (2) Each political subdivision required to make payments under Paragraph (1) of this subsection is authorized, in consideration of the employee's retention in, or entry upon, employment after enactment of Sections 10-14-1 through 10-14-3 and 10-14-5 through 10-14-10 NMSA 1978, to impose upon each of its employees, as to services which are covered by an approved plan, a contribution with respect to his wages, as defined in Section 10-14-2 NMSA 1978, not exceeding the amount of the employee tax which would be imposed by the Federal Insurance Contributions Act if such services constituted employment within the meaning of that act, and to deduct the amount of such contribution from his wages as and when paid. Contributions so collected shall be paid into the contribution fund in partial discharge of the liability of such political subdivision or instrumentality under Paragraph (1) of this subsection. Failure to deduct such contribution shall not relieve the employee or employer of liability therefor. D. Delinquent payments due under Paragraph (1) of Subsection C of this section with interest charged by the federal government, may be recovered by action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the political subdivision liable therefor or may, at the request of the state agency, be deducted from any other money payable to such subdivision by any department or agency of the state.

Legislative History

1953 Comp., § 5-7-5, enacted by Laws 1955, ch. 172, § 5; 1981, ch. 154, § 1.