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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 307

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Highway and Transportation Department (SHTD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

This memorial urges the Highway and Transportation Department to explore alternative means of increasing the level of maintenance and funding allocated for maintenance of high-volume interstate highways, including litter and weed control, pavement and bridge repair and striping.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

To make it clear to the traveling public that littering is strongly discouraged in New Mexico, the department supports HB 307 which increases the penalty for littering on the highways. HB 307 increases the penalty assessed for littering on highways from $50-100 to $500. This bill also adds trash to the list of items prohibited from being put on highways. Trash is defined as "waste food; paper products; cans, bottles and other containers; household furnishings and equipment; parts of bodies of vehicles and other metallic junk or scrap; and collections of ashes, dirt, yard trimmings and other rubbish."

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The department is in the process of amending its litter control contract with the Corrections Department to make the wages paid to prisoners competitive. Currently the department pays lower wages for prisoner labor than other contractors. In addition, the department is offering overtime to maintenance patrol employees to pick up litter an hour before normal starting time.

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