SENATE BILL 496

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Nicole Tobiassen and George K. Muñoz and Pete Campos

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE; REQUIRING THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY AGENCIES THAT HAVE FAILED TO MEET PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND TO RECOMMEND REDUCTIONS IN THE BUDGETS OF THOSE AGENCIES.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 2-5-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 267, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "2-5-4. LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE--ADDITIONAL DUTIES.--

          A. The legislative finance committee, in addition to all other duties prescribed by law, shall annually review budgets and appropriations requests and the operation and management of selected state agencies, departments and institutions and shall make recommendations with respect thereto to the legislature.

          B. To carry out the purposes of this section, the legislative finance committee shall establish a budget analysis division staffed with persons knowledgeable and proficient in budget analysis and budget preparation.

          C. Each state agency, department and institution shall furnish to the legislative finance committee a copy of its appropriation request made to the department of finance and administration at the same time [such] the request is made [to such department]. Each state agency, department or institution shall also furnish to the legislative finance committee and its staff any other supporting information or data deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

          D. The legislative finance committee or, when it deems necessary, its staff may hold such hearings and require such testimony from officers and employees of each state agency, department or institution as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

          E. Not later than the first week of any regular legislative session, the legislative finance committee shall furnish a document containing its budget recommendations to each member of the senate finance committee and the house appropriations and finance committee and to those other members of the legislature [which] who may request it. A copy shall also be furnished to the governor and to the department of finance and administration.

          F. In preparing budget recommendations, the legislative finance committee shall identify agencies that have failed to meet performance standards developed pursuant to the Accountability in Government Act and specified in Section 4 of the general appropriation act of the previous year and shall recommend reductions in the budgets of those agencies."

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