HOUSE MEMORIAL 15

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

William "Bill" R. Rehm

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT AN UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TASK FORCE TO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR CHANGES TO THE CURRENT PROGRAM, INCLUDING COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, SHARED WORK PLANS AND INDIVIDUAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, AMONG OTHERS.

     WHEREAS, the idea for an unemployment compensation program began in Wisconsin in 1932, during the depths of the great depression, and the federal government followed suit with the Social Security Act of 1935, which encouraged the states to adopt unemployment insurance plans; and

     WHEREAS, currently, all states participate in the federal-state program, which is financed through federal and state employer payroll taxes; and

     WHEREAS, with the recent economic downturn, states are struggling to maintain their unemployment insurance funds, and many have had to request loans from the federal government, which must be repaid with interest, a difficult burden in the face of declining unemployment insurance revenue and increasing need; and

     WHEREAS, given the expectation of a slow recovery from what is being called "the great recession", it is vital that New Mexico policymakers find ways to improve the unemployment compensation program in a way that benefits both employers and employees;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to appoint an ad hoc unemployment compensation task force to consider options for improving the unemployment compensation program and the viability of the unemployment compensation fund; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force membership include representatives of business and labor as well as other interested persons and that the two major political parties be equally represented in the membership; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force study innovations in place in other states as well as ideas set forth by state and federal policymakers, labor economists and other researchers, including:

          A. individual savings accounts for workers;

          B. shared work options;

          C. job search waivers for entrepreneurial activity; and

          D. opportunities and requirements for recipients to engage in community service work while receiving unemployment compensation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report to the governor and appropriate legislative interim committees by November 15, 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor and the legislative council service.

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