HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 25

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

W. Ken Martinez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONVENE AN INTERAGENCY SPECIAL FINANCIAL AUDIT TASK FORCE TO ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO THE MISUSE AND ABUSE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES AND OTHER FINANCIAL IMPROPRIETIES.

     WHEREAS, the residents of New Mexico are entitled to the honest and efficient operation of government and provision of public services; and

     WHEREAS, misuse and abuse of public financial resources do not always constitute criminal acts but do violate the public trust and drain dollars from the state treasury; and

     WHEREAS, audits and financial examinations into misuse, abuse and other financial improprieties in public service should be pursued as vigorously as criminal violations and can be enhanced through systemic reforms and more formal communications that can result from a coordinated interagency effort; and

     WHEREAS, correcting misuse, abuse and other financial improprieties can help restore the public's trust in government and save tax dollars; and

     WHEREAS, the state auditor is charged with conducting special audits in addition to regular, annual audits of public entities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state auditor be requested to convene a special financial audit task force and that the state auditor be requested to invite the attorney general, the United States attorney for the district of New Mexico, federal law enforcement agencies, the taxation and revenue department, executive oversight agencies, district attorneys and other local law enforcement agencies as the state auditor deems appropriate to participate in the task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state auditor be requested to report by November 15, 2007 to the legislature through the legislative finance committee and other appropriate legislative interim committees on the task force's work; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be delivered to the state auditor.

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