SENATE BILL 22
49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first special session, 2009
INTRODUCED BY
Rod Adair
AN ACT
CREATING THE NEW MEXICO BUDGET REFORM COMMISSION; PROVIDING FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. NEW MEXICO BUDGET REFORM COMMISSION CREATED--
MEMBERSHIP--APPOINTMENT--DUTIES.--
A. The "New Mexico budget reform commission" is created and shall function from the date of its appointment until January 15, 2010.
B. The commission shall consist of twenty-three members appointed as follows:
(1) five members of the house of representatives shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and five members of the senate shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate. Members shall be appointed from each house so as to give the two major political parties in each house the same proportional representation on the commission as prevails in each house; however, in no event shall either party have less than one member from each house on the commission;
(2) two public members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate; and
(3) eleven public members shall be appointed by the governor to represent a broad range of views and expertise on economic issues. These members shall include at least one member to represent municipal governments, at least one member to represent county governments and at least one member to represent Native American tribes, pueblos and nations.
C. Appointments to the commission shall be made no later than ten days after the effective date of this act. The governor, in consultation with the speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate, shall appoint a chair from among the members of the commission within three days of the appointment of the commission. The commission may elect such other officers as it deems necessary to carry out its duties.
D. The commission shall meet at the call of the chair as necessary to carry out its duties. The first meeting shall be held no later than November 15, 2009.
E. Three absences from meetings of the commission shall constitute grounds for removal of a member of the commission. Upon the request of the chair of the commission, the appointing authority shall replace the public member who has failed to attend three meetings of the commission.
F. A majority of the members appointed constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. The support of a majority of the members appointed is required for adoption of any action by the commission; provided, however, that the
final report of the commission, including its recommendations and proposed legislation, must have the support of a majority of the legislative members.
G. The commission shall develop recommendations to comprehensively evaluate and reprioritize New Mexico's general fund budget, establishing a balanced framework for appropriations, eliminating programs that are not essential, reducing appropriations where required and increasing appropriations where necessary, while maintaining necessary government services at an appropriate level. To carry out this task, the commission shall examine New Mexico's entire budget, identify its strengths and deficiencies and consider every expenditure in detail and scrutinize every line item of the state budget. The commission shall recommend all changes, reappropriations and eliminations or additions of line items as appropriate. The commission shall submit a report of its findings, including specific recommendations and proposed legislation, to the governor and the New Mexico legislative council no later than January 15, 2010.
H. The commission shall hire or contract for appropriate staff. Staff shall assist the commission as directed by the chair, including conducting interviews
with parties that wish to express their views to the commission and synthesizing this information for the commission. The commission may request assistance from the legislative council service, the legislative finance committee and the department of finance and administration.
I. Members of the commission shall be reimbursed for per diem and mileage expenses as provided for public officers in the Per Diem and Mileage Act.
Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is appropriated from legislative cash balances to the legislative council service for expenditure in fiscal year 2010 to carry out the provisions of this act, including staff
salaries and reimbursement of the per diem and mileage expenses of the New Mexico budget reform commission. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2010 shall revert to the general fund. Payments from the appropriation shall be made upon vouchers signed by the director of the legislative council service or the director's authorized representative.
Section 3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.
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