In the face of thousands of car dealerships closing across the country, Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday announced his support for a bill to help the state's car dealers.

The bill to be introduced in this year's Legislature does not involve any "bailout" or financial assistance of any kind.

"Please make that very clear," said Charles Henson, president of the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association in an interview Friday. "This is just to help us protect our investment."

According to a news release from Richardson's office, the bill would require auto manufacturers to have contracts with dealers that protect dealers in case of a closing. Under the proposed bill, contracts between manufacturers and dealerships would include defined reimbursements and compensations to dealers who perform at the acceptable level of success.

"The significant role of these New Mexico businesses in our overall economy deserves to be secured at the highest level of confidence," Richardson said in his news release. "When a New Mexico business and its employees are sustaining a profitable posture, they deserve to be dealt with fairly and equitably."

Richardson said franchised dealerships in this state provide thousands of jobs and represent more than 15 percent of all retail sales in the state.

The bill, to be sponsored by Rep. Al Park, Albuquerque and Sen. John Sapien, D-Corrales, is similar to legislation is being considered by legislatures in more than 20 states, Henson said.

Closed car dealerships have been one of the most visible scars of the recession.

Last year, General Motors and Chrysler alone accounted for nearly 2,000 dealerships shutting down.

Stateline.org, which covers state governments, reported in May that car dealership closings were expected to put about 100,000 people out of work nationwide.

Some states have tried different approaches. A new law in New Hampshire, passed last year according to Stateline.org, "allows local dealers to continue servicing vehicles even if they no longer sell cars. If a dealer closes, the bill requires the automaker he or she represents to buy back inventory delivered in the last two years, which helps the dealer stay on his feet to reopen as a used car lot or repair shop."

Henson said 14 dealerships in New Mexico closed last year. The majority of those were GM or Chrysler dealerships, although other brands also were affected.

In Santa Fe, the Pitre Hyundai Mitsubishi dealership on St. Michael's Drive closed in July. Española lost Ed Corley Ford Mercury as well as Salazar Dodge Chrysler Jeep.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.