SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 46

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

INTRODUCED BY

David Ulibarri

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY TAX REFORM.

     WHEREAS, in 2003, the blue ribbon tax reform commission was created to address the widespread feeling that New Mexico's tax system was no longer fully meeting the state's diverse needs; and

     WHEREAS, the commission's general charge was to develop recommendations for reform of New Mexico's tax laws in order to establish a balanced tax system that would provide maximum economic development benefits and maintain necessary government services at an appropriate level; and

     WHEREAS, the commission formally developed one hundred ninety-six proposals to alter the tax system, seventy-one of which were adopted by the commission; and

     WHEREAS, there is still a need to study the strengths and weaknesses of New Mexico's tax system, to evaluate whether existing tax incentives are meeting New Mexico's needs and to determine whether new tax incentives that would provide maximum economic development to the state should be investigated;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to convene a task force to conduct a study of New Mexico's tax system, using the findings of the 2003 blue ribbon tax reform commission as a model, which study should identify the current system's strengths and weaknesses and consider improvements to make the system more conducive to economic growth, including evaluating existing tax incentives and investigating new tax incentives that would maximize economic development in the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consist of twenty-three members appointed as follows:

          A. five members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, and five members of the senate 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 task force as prevails in each house; provided, however, that no party should have less than one member from each house on the task force;

           B. two public members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate; and

           C. eleven public members appointed by the governor to represent a broad range of views and expertise on taxation issues. These members should 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; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings and recommendations to the governor, the interim revenue stabilization and tax policy committee and the legislative finance committee on or before September 1, 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council and the governor.

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