NMSA 1978, § 7-1B-3 — Chief hearing officer; appointment

The head of the administrative hearings office is the "chief hearing officer", who shall
be appointed for a term of six years, except that the initial term shall begin on July 1,
2015 and shall end on December 31, 2015. The chief hearing officer may be
reappointed to successive terms. An appointed chief hearing officer shall serve and
have all the duties, responsibilities and authority of that office during the period of time
prior to appointment of a new chief hearing officer. The initial chief hearing officer shall
be the person who is the chief of the hearings bureau [administrative hearings office] of
the taxation and revenue department on July 1, 2015. The chief hearing officer shall be
removed only for malfeasance, misfeasance or abuse of office.