SENATE BILL 555

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph Cervantes

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE; CREATING A JOINT INTERIM LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTION AND STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE; ESTABLISHING DUTIES; PROVIDING FOR CREATION OF SUBCOMMITTEES; PROVIDING FOR STAFFING; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTION AND STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE CREATED.--There is created a permanent joint interim legislative committee of the legislature to be called the "legislative institution and state-federal relations committee".

     SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] MEMBERSHIP--APPOINTMENT--VACANCIES.--

          A. The legislative institution and state-federal relations committee shall be composed of twelve members. Six members of the house of representatives shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and six members of the senate shall be appointed by the committees' committee of the senate or, if the senate appointments are made in the interim, by the president pro tempore of the senate after consultation with and agreement of a majority of the members of the committees' committee. For the biennial legislature beginning in 2019, the chair shall be a senate member and the vice chair shall be a house member. The appointing authority of each house shall exercise its appointing authority by naming the chair or vice chair, respectively, on an alternating biennial legislature basis.

          B. Members shall be appointed from each house so as to give the two major political parties in each house the same proportional representation on the committee as prevails in each house; provided, however, that in no event shall either party have less than one member from each house on the committee.

          C. At the request of the committee chair, members may be removed from the committee by the appointing authority for nonattendance according to New Mexico legislative council policy. Vacancies on the committee may be filled by the appointing authority.

          D. No action shall be taken by the committee if a majority of the total membership from either house on the committee rejects the action.

     SECTION 3. [NEW MATERIAL] DUTIES.--

          A. After its appointment, the legislative institution and state-federal relations committee shall hold one organizational meeting to develop a work plan and budget for the ensuing interim. The work plan and budget shall be submitted to the New Mexico legislative council for approval.

          B. Upon approval of its work plan and budget, the committee shall:

                (1) examine the statutes and constitutional provisions that govern the state's legislative process, including the house, senate and joint rules;

                (2) develop recommendations to more effectively perform the policymaking powers and oversight duties of the legislature;

                (3) study the processes and procedures of other state legislatures;

                (4) evaluate proposed federal legislation that could substantially affect the state; and

                (5) examine the distribution of power and responsibility within state government.

          C. In carrying out its duties, the committee may request assistance or information from:

                (1) the New Mexico congressional delegation or its staff;

                (2) individuals or organizations that have expertise in a relevant field or discipline; and

                (3) state and federal government entities.

          D. In the evaluation of a federal law and its effect on the state, the committee may rely on:

                (1) the text of the United States constitution;

                (2) primary source documents that are:

                     (a) directly relevant to the drafting, adoption, ratification or initial implementation of the United States constitution; or

                     (b) created by a person directly involved in the drafting, adoption, ratification or initial implementation of the United States constitution; and

                (3) other relevant sources, including federal court decisions and scholarly materials. 

     SECTION 4. [NEW MATERIAL] SUBCOMMITTEES.--A subcommittee of the legislative institution and state-federal relations committee shall be created only by majority vote of all members appointed to the committee and with the prior approval of the New Mexico 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 who is not a member of the political party having the most members in the legislature. All meetings and expenditures of a subcommittee 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 5. [NEW MATERIAL] REPORT.--The legislative institution and state-federal relations committee shall make an interim report of its findings and recommendations for the consideration of each session of the legislature. The reports and proposed legislation shall be made available on or before December 15 before each legislative session. 

     SECTION 6. [NEW MATERIAL] STAFF.--The staff for the legislative institution and state-federal relations committee shall be provided by the legislative council service.

     SECTION 7. APPROPRIATION.--Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the legislature to be administered by the legislative council service for expenditure in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for expenses of the legislative institution and state-federal relations committee. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2021 shall revert to the general fund.

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