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PRC Qualifications Bill Awaits House Debate

Future members of New Mexico's utility regulatory agency will need to meet minimum educational and professional qualifications under legislation awaiting debate in the House.

The 70-member House is expected Thursday to debate the regulatory reform measure, which will implement a constitutional amendment approved by voters last year.

The bill will require future candidates for the Public Regulation Commission to have a combined 12 years of professional experience or higher education in a field related to the regulatory agency, such as economics, accounting, engineering, finance, law, earth sciences and government administration.

The standards will not apply to the current five members on the commission, which regulates utilities and telecommunications.

Continuing education also would be required of commissioners, who currently need only to be 18 years old and state residents.