HOUSE BILL 226

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Stephanie Maez

AN ACT

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; CREATING THE LEGISLATIVE INTERIM SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT WORK GROUP; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT WORK GROUP CREATED--TERMINATION.--The "small business support work group" is created as an interim legislative work group. The work group shall function from the date of its appointment until December 1 prior to the second session of the fifty-second legislature.

     SECTION 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--MEMBERSHIP--APPOINTMENT.--The small business support work group shall be composed of nine members appointed by the New Mexico legislative council. Three members shall be members of the house of representatives, three members shall be members of the senate and three members shall be public members whose professional expertise is related to the work group's purpose. No more than five members shall be members of the same major political party.     

     SECTION 3. TEMPORARY PROVISION--DUTIES.--

          A. After its appointment, the small business support work group shall hold one organizational meeting to develop a work plan and budget for the 2015 legislative interim. The work plan and budget shall be submitted to the New Mexico legislative council for approval.

          B. Upon approval of its work plan and budget, the work group shall:

                (1) study the needs of small businesses in the state that are independently owned and operated and that employ fifty or fewer full-time employees;

                (2) complete a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the needs of the state's small businesses;

                (3) develop recommendations for a state small business growth strategy; and

                (4) report the findings of its analysis and its recommendations to the legislature along with any proposed legislation before December 1, 2015.

     SECTION 4. TEMPORARY PROVISION--STAFF.--The staff for the

small business support work group shall be provided by the legislative council service.

     SECTION 5. APPROPRIATION.--Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative council service for expenditure in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 to reimburse the per diem and mileage expenses of the small business support work group members and to pay other expenses, including contracting expenses, of the work group. Payments from the appropriation shall be made on warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration on vouchers signed by the director of the legislative council service or the director's authorized representative. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2016 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 6. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public

peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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