SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 4
48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008
INTRODUCED BY
Lynda M. Lovejoy
FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION AND THE TAXATION AND REVENUE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE COLLECTION OF STATE AND COUNTY TAXES BY UTILITIES FROM NATIVE AMERICANS RESIDING ON TRIBAL LANDS.
WHEREAS, Native Americans residing on tribal lands are serviced by nontribal utilities, including telecommunications companies; and
WHEREAS, nontribal utilities, including telecommunications companies, are not permitted to collect state and county taxes for services provided to Native American customers residing on tribal lands; and
WHEREAS, some nontribal utilities, including telecommunications companies, allegedly continue to collect state and county taxes for services provided to Native American customers residing on tribal lands even when those customers provide information identifying themselves as tribal members;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it request the office of the attorney general, the public regulation commission and the taxation and revenue department to investigate the collection of state and county taxes by utilities, including telecommunications companies, from Native Americans residing on tribal lands; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the attorney general, the public regulation commission and the taxation and revenue department report their findings to the interim Indian affairs committee by September 30, 2008; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the attorney general, the chair of the public regulation commission, the secretary of taxation and revenue, the president of the Navajo Nation, the speaker of the Navajo Nation council, the president of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the president of the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the governors of the nineteen Indian pueblos in New Mexico.
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