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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISOR TO

SPEARHEAD A COMMITTEE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS

REGARDING THE INTEROPERABILITY OF COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS IN

NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, emergencies, including the September 11

terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, wildfires in New Mexico

and other disasters, require coherent and effective

communication among various local, tribal, state and federal

emergency response agencies; and

WHEREAS, dependable and interoperable public safety

communications infrastructure is critical to New Mexico's

response to emergencies in order to ensure the safety of

emergency response personnel and the safety of the public; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary for public safety personnel

from different agencies, disciplines and levels of government

to communicate with each other effectively and efficiently so

that they can coordinate their response to emergencies,

minimize response time and maximize resources; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for a coordinated statewide

approach to the establishment of an interoperable public

safety and critical communications infrastructure network for

the benefit of the public and local, tribal, state and federal

emergency responders; and

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WHEREAS, local, tribal, state and national leaders have

consistently resolved to provide effective emergency response

to all emergencies and disasters;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor's

homeland security advisor be requested to spearhead and form a

committee, including representatives from the first responder

community, the chief information officer, the secretary of

public safety, the secretary of general services and

additional representatives from other sectors of local,

tribal, state and federal stakeholders as identified by the

homeland security advisor, to study the interoperability of

local, tribal and state emergency communications systems in

New Mexico and their interface with federal systems; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the homeland security

advisor's interoperable communications study committee make

recommendations to the governor and the legislature regarding

resolution of the interoperability issues identified by the

committee by October 1, 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor, all executive branch agencies,

the New Mexico municipal league, the New Mexico association of

counties and the New Mexico federal executive board.