SENATE MEMORIAL 11

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

INTRODUCED BY

William H. Payne

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO SCHOOL OF LAW AND ANDERSON SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF INCREASING THEIR RESPECTIVE OIL AND GAS COURSE OFFERINGS IN EFFORTS TO BECOME IMPORTANT SOURCES FOR LEADERSHIP IN THE SUBJECT AREAS RELATED TO THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

     WHEREAS, royalties and taxes from the oil and gas industry represent significant revenues directly and through New Mexico's severance tax permanent fund, benefiting the public education system and providing for other important public services in the state; and

     WHEREAS, the oil and gas industry is and must remain an important part of New Mexico's economic backbone for creating jobs and generating revenues in communities; and

     WHEREAS, the work of this vital industry will continue to raise important public policy questions regarding environmental protection, natural resources development, sustainability and other related issues; and

     WHEREAS, the significance of many of the issues associated with the oil and gas industry requires that those issues be debated among legislators, agency officials, experts in the field and others who are educated regarding the relevant facts and complexities inherent in the oil and gas industry; and

     WHEREAS, during the past two years, the university of New Mexico school of law has been involved in producing important research on oil and gas-related issues, including a study of pore space ownership and another study on natural gas as a transportation fuel; and

     WHEREAS, many of the state's leading oil and gas industry lawyers were educated at the university of New Mexico school of law, and others have been closely involved in law school activities; and

     WHEREAS, the school of law recently hosted an informative and helpful legal briefing for legislators in which oil and gas issues were addressed; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico school of law has produced many of the state's leaders, including:

          A. more than a dozen state legislators;

          B. numerous state court judges;

          C. nine of the fifteen appellate court judges;

          D. the presiding and prior chief justices for the New Mexico supreme court;

          E. the chief judge of the New Mexico court of appeals;

          F. other public servants, such as a United States senator;

          G. current and past United States attorneys for the district of New Mexico;

          H. the current state attorney general;

          I. the state auditor and his general counsel; and

          J. the deputy general counsel to the governor; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico Anderson school of management also continues to produce leaders and public servants for New Mexico, including Albuquerque's mayor, the state engineer and leaders in the private sector; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico Anderson school of management is well-positioned as a focal point for producing leaders in the private sector who will be experts in the complex issues involved in the oil and gas industry; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico school of law regularly offers a basic oil and gas course and is currently collaborating with the Anderson school of management to offer a co-listed advanced course in oil and gas law for business students; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico is located in the state's largest population center of Albuquerque, ideally situated to educate New Mexico's students and to provide an environment for objective and dispassionate consideration and research of the many oil and gas industry-related issues; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico will continue to produce leaders in the field, and, in order to make wise decisions for the future of New Mexico, those leaders must be highly educated in the issues surrounding the oil and gas industry; and

     WHEREAS, it is crucial that students in New Mexico not be faced with leaving the state in their efforts to acquire education and expertise in the oil and gas subject matters that are so important to New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the university of New Mexico can provide the critical elements of high-quality study and collaboration with other institutions and can be a key educational force in the growing and vital subject areas pertaining to the oil and gas industry;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the university of New Mexico school of law and Anderson school of management be requested to study the feasibility of increasing their respective oil and gas course offerings and programs, along with other course units, in efforts to become even more important sources for leadership in the subject areas related to the oil and gas industry, both now and in the future; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the university of New Mexico school of law and the Anderson school of management also be requested to create a plan for offering greater oil and gas industry education and related services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the dean of the university of New Mexico school of law and the dean of the Anderson school of management.

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