HOUSE BILL 301

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Alonzo Baldonado

AN ACT

RELATING TO RECORDING OF LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS; REQUIRING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE TO ARCHIVE THE WEBCASTS OF LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS HELD BY THE LEGISLATURE; REQUIRING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE TO MAKE THE WEBCASTS AVAILABLE ON THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE WEBSITE.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 2-3-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1951, Chapter 182, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

     "2-3-8. PURPOSE AND DUTIES OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE.--The purpose and duties of the legislative council service [shall be] are:

          [a.] A. to assist the legislature [of the State of New Mexico] in the proper performance of its constitutional functions by providing its members with impartial and accurate information and reports concerning the legislative problems [which] that come before them; by providing digests showing the practices of other states and foreign nations in dealing with similar problems;

          [b.] B. when so requested, to secure information for and to report to the legislators of this state on the social and economic effects of statutes of this state or elsewhere by cooperating with the legislative service agencies in other states and other reference agencies and libraries;

          [c.] C. to furnish to the members of the legislature [of this state] the assistance of expert [draftsmen] drafters qualified to aid the legislators in the preparation of bills for introduction into the legislature;

          [d.] D. to recommend to the legislature measures [which] that will improve the form and working of the statutes of this state and clarify and reconcile their provisions;

          [e.] E. to provide for the legislature adequate staff facilities and to provide the adequate expert assistance without which no legislature can properly perform its required functions;

          [f.] F. to prepare and index for printing as promptly as possible after the adjournment of each session the session laws therefor, which compilation shall include all resolutions and acts [which] that the legislature has adopted or passed during the session and that have received the approval of the governor when such approval is necessary; and

          G. to prepare and archive audio and visual recordings of all legislative meetings that are webcast by the legislature. The legislative council service shall make the archived recordings publicly available and easily accessible on the New Mexico legislature website. Each recording shall be added to the legislature website as soon after the adjournment of the public hearing as practicable."

- 3 -