45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

REQUESTING THE STATE PERSONNEL OFFICE TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO PROVIDE AN EQUITABLE PAY SCALE FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS EMPLOYED BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER DEPARTMENT.

WHEREAS, all persons accused of a crime in the state are eligible for the assistance of state-appointed counsel; and

WHEREAS, providing such assistance of counsel to those in need is a burden taken upon by the public defender department; and

WHEREAS, while each individual criminal case requires a prosecutor from a district attorney's office, likewise, many of the criminal cases also receive an attorney from a public defender's office to represent the accused; and

WHEREAS, while it is clear that both the district attorney's office and the public defender's office provide a fundamental service to our state, it is also clear that the pay scale for both assistant district attorneys and public defenders is not equitable;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state personnel office be requested to develop an implementation plan to provide an equitable pay scale for the employees of the public defenders department; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan provide for a pay scale similar to that received by assistant district attorneys; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state personnel office be requested to present its recommendation to the appropriate legislative interim committee prior to December 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chair of the appropriate legislative interim committee, the director of the state personnel office and the chief public defender.