The Personnel Act {NMSA 1978, Sections 10-9-1 to 10-9-25} was enacted according to the provisions of the Constitution of New Mexico [N.M. Const. Art. 7, Section 2(B)]. The Board subscribes to the United States Office of Personnel Management’s Standards for Merit System of Personnel Administration, which describe the merit principles as follows:

• Employee recruitment, selection, and advancement shall be on the basis of their relative knowledge, skills and abilities including open consideration of qualified applicants for initial appointment.
• Equitable and adequate compensation shall be provided.
• Employees shall be trained as needed to assure high-quality performance.
• Employees shall be retained on the basis of the adequacy of their performance. Provisions shall be made for correcting inadequate performance and separating employees whose inadequate performance cannot be corrected.
• Fair treatment shall be assured for applicants and employees in all aspects of personnel administration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, age, disability, or other non-merit factors, and with proper regard for their primary and constitutional rights as citizens.
• Employees shall be informed of their political rights and prohibited practices under the Hatch Act [5 U.S.C. Sections 1501 to 1508].