SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 69

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

INTRODUCED BY

Sander Rue

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CREATE A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE PROCESSES, PROCEDURES AND RULES OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO DETERMINE AREAS WHERE GREATER EFFICIENCIES AND PUBLIC ACCESS CAN BE INCORPORATED IN ALL BRANCHES OF NEW MEXICO STATE GOVERNMENT.

     WHEREAS, government and bureaucracy seem to be interchangeable terms; and

     WHEREAS, bureaucracy bears the stigma of an unnecessarily confusing process, burdensome regulation or purposeful obstruction to the access of information or services; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature is constantly being informed by constituents of the burdensome or confusing nature of government, and legislators are aware that information needed to make critical decisions for the welfare of the state is often not available or requires great effort to obtain; and

     WHEREAS, many constituents desire government processes and procedures that are open and transparent, that respond to public concerns and that are easy to navigate; and

     WHEREAS, it is important for the legislature to review state government processes, procedures and rules periodically to ensure that state government is providing the information and services made available to the public in statute in the most efficient, economical and effective manner and to ensure that the processes and procedures are easy to navigate and the rules are not unnecessarily burdensome;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to appoint or identify a committee to review the current processes, procedures and rules of all branches of New Mexico state government; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the legislature reviewing the processes, procedures and rules of state government seek ways to encourage greater efficiency, effectiveness and economy in state government that result in greater access and transparency for the public; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee determine the best manner in which to proceed to review the many processes, procedures and rules of state government on an ongoing basis and make a recommendation to the New Mexico legislative council regarding the committee's findings; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate, the governor and the chief justice of the supreme court.

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