HOUSE MEMORIAL 1

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Rodolpho "Rudy" S. Martinez

FOR THE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT, IN 2014, THE INTERIM LEGISLATIVE MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ASSESS THE OVERSIGHT, IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RESIDENT VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS PREFERENCE IN STATE PURCHASES.

     WHEREAS, veterans are highly valued and deeply respected by the people of the state of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, in 2012, the legislature passed, and the governor signed, a law that provides a seven percent to ten percent preference for bids from resident veteran-owned businesses for state purchases; and

     WHEREAS, questions have arisen about the implementation and the effectiveness of the 2012 law; and

     WHEREAS, assessments of the law have met with challenges, including questions about the authority to make rules to allow the preference to function; oversight to ensure that the preference is aiding those businesses the law was intended to benefit; and reporting to identify the impact of the law to the state and to veterans; and

     WHEREAS, the interim legislative military and veterans' affairs committee is concerned with issues surrounding veterans in the state and is committed to working on their behalf; and

     WHEREAS, the interim legislative military and veterans' affairs committee has a keen interest in the law providing a preference for bids from resident veteran-owned businesses for state purchases;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that, in 2014, the interim legislative military and veterans' affairs committee be requested to assess the oversight, implementation and effectiveness of the resident veteran-owned business preference in state purchases; and

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

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