HOUSE MEMORIAL 108

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Sandra D. Jeff

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE INDIAN NATIONS, TRIBES AND PUEBLOS OF NEW MEXICO TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR FIRE PROTECTION IN INDIAN COUNTRY.

     WHEREAS, in 2003 and 2005, Governor Richardson signed Executive Order 2005-004, underscoring a commitment to government-to-government dialogue; and

     WHEREAS, through the executive order, he directed New Mexico executive departments to adopt consultation plans to strengthen coordination and collaboration in areas of mutual concern on behalf of all citizens of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, tribes and the state have made significant progress, creating partnerships and a common agenda in the areas of education, environmental protection, water resource management, law enforcement, public health, courts and jurisdiction, among other important areas; and

     WHEREAS, together, the tribes and the state have developed and established policies to guide their shared responsibilities and, where necessary, legislation to advance their desired goals; and

     WHEREAS, the Indian nations, tribes and pueblos have engaged in a dialogue with fire and emergency management personnel from other jurisdictions to assess the capacity of fire protection and emergency management services; and

     WHEREAS, the Indian nations, tribes and pueblos are in need of fire protection services; and

     WHEREAS, only six of the twenty-two Indian nations, tribes and pueblos have a full-time emergency management services coordinator; and

     WHEREAS, only five of the twenty-two Indian nations, tribes and pueblos have a part-time emergency management services coordinator; and

     WHEREAS, the fire marshal division of the public regulation commission recommends that a task force be created to establish a foundation for collaboration with the Indian nations, tribes and pueblos of New Mexico in order to address the need for fire protection services in Indian country; and

     WHEREAS, the fire protection task force should include the tribal leaders or their designees, the state fire marshal and others; and

     WHEREAS, a fire protection task force would generate solutions to address the need for fire protection services in Indian country;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state fire marshal be requested to collaborate with the Indian nations, tribes and pueblos of New Mexico to establish a fire protection task force to study issues of policy and to identify funding sources to address the need for fire protection in Indian country; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the state fire marshal, the governors of the Indian pueblos and the presidents of the Indian nations and tribes. 

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