SENATE BILL 171

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Nancy Rodriguez

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF CHAPTER 2 NMSA 1978 TO CREATE A DISABILITIES CONCERNS COMMITTEE AS A PERMANENT JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE; REPEALING A SECTION OF CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 13 NMSA 1978 RELATING TO THE DISABILITIES CONCERNS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 2 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DISABILITIES CONCERNS COMMITTEE CREATED--MEMBERSHIP--APPOINTMENT--DUTIES--REPORTING--STAFF--SUBCOMMITTEES.--

          A. The "disabilities concerns committee" is created as a permanent joint interim committee of the legislature. The committee shall be composed of six voting members and two advisory members. The New Mexico legislative council shall appoint three voting members and one advisory member from the house of representatives. The legislative council shall appoint three voting members and one advisory member from the senate. At the time of making the appointments, the legislative council shall designate the chair and vice chair of the committee. Members shall be appointed so as to give the two major political parties in each house the same proportionate representation on the committee as prevails in each house; provided that in no event shall either of such parties have less than one member from each house on the committee.

          B. At the request of the committee chair, members of the disabilities concerns committee may be removed from the committee by the legislative council for nonattendance according to legislative council policy. Vacancies on the committee, however caused, may be filled by the legislative council, or the legislative council may reduce the size of the committee by not making replacement appointments and, in such case, need not readjust party representation. No action shall be taken by the committee if a majority of the total membership from either house on the committee rejects the action.

          C. The disabilities concerns committee shall conduct a continuing study of the programs, agencies, policies, issues and needs relating to individuals with disabilities, including review and study of the statutes, constitutional provisions, regulations and court decisions governing these programs, agencies, policies and issues. The committee shall also study the full continuum of programs and services available and needed for individuals with disabilities.

          D. The disabilities concerns committee shall make a report of its findings and recommendations for the consideration of each session of the legislature. The report and recommendations shall be made available to the legislative council on or before December 15 of each year.

          E. Staff for the disabilities concerns committee shall be provided by the legislative council service.

          F. Subcommittees shall be created only by a majority vote of all members appointed to the disabilities concerns committee and with the prior approval of the legislative council. A subcommittee shall be composed of at least one member from the senate and one member from the house of representatives, and at least one member of the minority party. All meetings and expenditures of a subcommittee of the disabilities concerns committee shall be approved by the full committee in advance of the meeting or expenditure, and the approval shall be shown in the minutes of the committee."

     SECTION 2. REPEAL.--Section 2-13-3.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2010, Chapter 24, Section 1) is repealed.