SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 13

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

INTRODUCED BY

Dede Feldman

A JOINT RESOLUTION

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 4, SECTION 10 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO TO CREATE A COMMISSION TO SET LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION NO MORE FREQUENTLY THAN ONCE EVERY DECADE AND REPEAL THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE PER DIEM AND MILEAGE PROVISIONS.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. It is proposed to amend Article 4 of the constitution of New Mexico by repealing Section 10 and adding a new Section 10 to read:

          "A. The "legislative compensation commission" is created to set the compensation of members of the legislature. The commission shall consist of five members, not more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party and none of whom shall be legislators, public officers or employees of the state or any of its political subdivisions, state contractors, lobbyists, lobbyists' employers or household members of any of the foregoing.

          B. Four members of the commission shall be appointed by the New Mexico legislative council and one member of the commission shall be appointed by the other four members. The members shall be appointed once each decade in the year ending in "6" and shall serve only until December 31 of that year. A vacancy on the commission shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. The legislature shall provide adequate resources and staff to the commission.

          C. The commission shall meet and establish the compensation to be paid to legislators beginning on July 1 of the year following the commission's appointment and continuing until changed by the commission appointed the following decade.

          D. The compensation paid to legislators shall not change more frequently than once each decade.

          E. The provisions relating to per diem and mileage in effect before adoption of this amendment shall remain in effect until legislative compensation as determined by the commission is effective."

     SECTION 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next general election or at any special election prior to that date that may be called for that purpose.

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