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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Boitano

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02-01-08

HB

SHORT TITLE Senate Proceedings Available Via Internet

SM 45

ANALYST Padilla

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Memorial 445 (SM 45) requests that the Legislative Council Service initiate proceedings

as expeditiously as possible with the necessary arrangements and contracts to ensure that the

proceedings of the Senate will be streamed on the internet beginning in 2009. Proceedings of the

Senate are to be made available to viewers and listeners via the internet .Copies of this Memorial

are to be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Council Service.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

SM 45 states that legislative proceedings are available to the public in 45 states across the

country via the internet and that the Legislature of New Mexico showed its support for streaming

its proceedings to its citizens by appropriating $75,000 for that purpose in 2005. The Senate

webcasts will bring policy debates and “democracy in action" into the living rooms and

classrooms of students.

In the January 14, 2008 meeting, the New Mexico Legislative Council declined to direct staff to

issue a request for proposals to solicit bids so that webcasting could begin. The majority of

Senate members express support for webcasting Senate proceedings.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

If this bill is not enacted then the public, including citizens and students, will not have access to

public policy debates and will not be able to view the “democracy in action."

JRP/mt