SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO CONDUCT A STUDY THAT INVESTIGATES THE PROPOSAL OF THE ENHANCED 911 (E911) DIRECTORS AFFILIATE THAT A SINGLE, STATEWIDE 911 PROGRAM OVERSIGHT BOARD MADE UP OF A MAJORITY OF 911 PROFESSIONALS BE CREATED AND CHARGED WITH ADMINISTRATION OF THE 911 PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, essential emergency reporting and dispatch services accessible by calling nine-one-one, known as the "911 program", are administered by the local government division of the department of finance and administration, while these emergency reporting and dispatch services are actually provided through forty-seven disparately funded public safety answer points, or "911 centers", located throughout the state; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico association of counties' New Mexico E911 directors affiliate, made up of the directors of these 911 centers, has requested that the New Mexico state government consider establishing a statewide 911 program oversight board; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico E911 directors affiliate reports that there is currently a lack of resources to adequately serve the forty-seven public 911 centers; and

     WHEREAS, under the local government division of the department of finance and administration, there is reportedly only one 911 program employee responsible for overseeing all of the forty-seven public 911 centers statewide; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico E911 directors affiliate has expressed its concern that decisions regarding 911 program equipment, funding and training in the state's 911 centers are being made without the input of New Mexico 911 professionals; and

     WHEREAS, E911 directors have expressed the need for updated 911 program equipment to keep pace with "next generation 911" — a plan for acquiring and implementing up-to-date technology that is not currently available but will be demanded by the public, including features such as text to 911, streaming images and video; and

     WHEREAS, according to the New Mexico E911 directors affiliate, New Mexico is one of only five states in the United States that does not have a plan in place for implementing next generation 911; and

     WHEREAS, according to the New Mexico E911 directors affiliate, the federal government has allocated one hundred fifteen million dollars ($115,000,000) in grant money specifically for next generation 911; and

     WHEREAS, states, such as New Mexico, that do not have an implementation plan are ineligible to receive any federal funding to implement next generation 911; and

     WHEREAS, there are several states in the United States that have established and implemented a statewide 911 program oversight board to administer and manage the 911 programs in those states; and

     WHEREAS, statewide 911 program oversight boards are mostly composed of 911 professionals, as well as other residents appointed by their state governments; and

     WHEREAS, statewide 911 program oversight boards provide oversight of the statewide 911 programs, ensuring that the interests of the 911 community are represented and that decisions made regarding statewide 911 program operations and funding are made with the input of 911 professionals;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of finance and administration be requested to conduct a study that investigates the proposal of the E911 directors affiliate that a single, statewide 911 program oversight board made up of a majority of 911 professionals be created and charged with administration of the 911 programs throughout the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of finance and administration be requested to report the findings of the statewide 911 program oversight board study to the legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2018; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of finance and administration, the executive director of the New Mexico association of counties and to the legislative health and human services committee.

- 4 -