SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 21

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Kay Papen

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO FORM A JOBS COUNCIL TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC AND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO CREATE INNOVATIVE JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, the legislature is committed to making New Mexico the most attractive state for new and emerging industries that will create innovative job opportunities for the benefit of the people and the economic development of the state; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's diverse assets provide the resources necessary to develop the strategies and opportunities that will create innovative jobs in the state; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's unique geographic features make it an excellent location for a range of business ventures, including solar and wind energy development, film production and space and traditional tourism; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has a high concentration of residents with advanced college degrees and two national laboratories that can serve as catalysts for research, development and innovation; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico should use the universities and national laboratories located in the state as resources for discovering the industries that will create innovative job opportunities and expand the state's economy; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico should develop a collaboration between the public and private interests of the state to develop a strategic and comprehensive plan that will increase innovation and growth in the state's work force and economy; and

     WHEREAS, representatives from the business community and labor organizations should work together to assist in developing strategies that will meet the needs and ensure the success of businesses and workers in new and emerging industries; and

     WHEREAS, a collaboration that will bring the interests of government, business and labor together with the state's best resources for discovering innovation, the universities and national laboratories, will provide the greatest opportunity for the development of a strategic and comprehensive plan that will create innovative job opportunities and make New Mexico the most attractive state for new and emerging industries;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to form a jobs council to develop a strategic and comprehensive plan to create new and innovative job opportunities in new and emerging industries in the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the jobs council be composed of fifteen members, including the speaker of the house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate, the majority and minority leaders of each house of the legislature, or their designees; the chair of the relevant house of representatives standing committee that deals with business and industry issues; the chair of the relevant senate standing committee that deals with corporate issues; the presidents of New Mexico state university, the university of New Mexico and the New Mexico institute of mining and technology, or each president's designee; the president of Sandia national laboratories, or the president's designee; the director of Los Alamos national laboratory, or the director's designee; a representative from the association of commerce and industry of New Mexico; and a representative from the New Mexico building and construction trades council; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the jobs council report its finding and recommendations to the appropriate legislative interim committee by November 1, 2013; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council, the presidents of the university of New Mexico, New Mexico state university and New Mexico institute of mining and technology, the president of Sandia national laboratories, the director of Los Alamos national laboratory, the association of commerce and industry of New Mexico and the New Mexico building and construction trades council.

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