SENATE MEMORIAL 71

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob R. Candelaria

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO UNDERTAKE AN ANALYSIS OF ITS STAFF COMPENSATION POLICIES TO MAXIMIZE THE DEPARTMENT'S POTENTIAL TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE HIGHEST QUALITY STAFF.

     WHEREAS, the department of health is the state's largest public agency, providing a wide range of essential public functions such as public health, health care services, oversight of health facilities and extensive health and human services programming; and

     WHEREAS, to carry out its essential functions, the department of health employs some of the state's and the nation's greatest experts in health and public administration; and

     WHEREAS, in order to attract and retain the highest quality employees, the department of health must have personnel policies in place that provide competitive compensation and a collegial work environment; and

     WHEREAS, as a state agency, the department of health must balance its need to attract and retain high-quality employees with its role as steward of the state's resources; and

     WHEREAS, in the wake of the economic downturn that began in 2008, the department of health's budget was greatly affected by cuts; and

     WHEREAS, to meet its staffing demands under constrained budgetary circumstances, the department of health hired many personnel at compensation levels below the mid-point for their professions; and

     WHEREAS, since the economic downturn, many of these individuals hired at compensation levels below the mid-point have been unable to obtain pay raises to bring their compensation commensurate with market values; and

     WHEREAS, in more recent hiring, the department of health has been able to hire personnel at compensation levels that are higher than mid-point; and

     WHEREAS, as a result of the changing compensation policies at the department of health, there are wide compensation gaps between many of the personnel with comparable qualifications who are providing comparable service to the department, resulting in inequities that may threaten morale and retention at the department of health; and

     WHEREAS, the department of health employs personnel among many diverse divisions and facilities in the state; and

     WHEREAS, compensation levels for department of health personnel who possess similar qualifications and who provide comparable service vary widely among the many diverse divisions and facilities in a manner that differences in local economy and work force do not explain;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of health be requested to undertake a department-wide analysis of personnel compensation levels to determine current practices in light of the department's goals of efficient stewardship of public funds and employment of the highest-quality personnel for department positions; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of health implement compensation policy recommendations resulting from the department-wide analysis of personnel compensation levels; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of health report the findings and recommendations of the department-wide analysis of compensation levels, and actions the department of health has taken pursuant to the recommendations resulting from the analysis, to the legislative finance committee by October 1, 2014; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of health and the chair and vice chair of the legislative finance committee.

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