HOUSE MEMORIAL 79

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

INTRODUCED BY

Rebecca Dow and Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND NEW MEXICO COUNTIES CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE RELOCATION OPTIONS FOR THE FIRE MARSHAL DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION.

     WHEREAS, public safety and emergency services are critical to the health, safety and welfare of the people of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the fire marshal division of the public regulation commission is responsible for providing communication, training, investigations, inspections, code adoption and funding to municipal and county fire departments in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the fire marshal division is currently located within the public regulation commission, and the public regulation commission chief of staff is tasked with providing oversight for the division; and

     WHEREAS, the public regulation commission is responsible for regulating public utilities, including electric, natural gas and water companies; transportation companies, including common and contract carriers; transmission and pipeline companies; including telephone, telegraph and information transmission companies and other public service companies, and there is no mention of the needed focus or support to ensure adequate fire services statewide; and

     WHEREAS, statewide representatives with technical and operational expertise about fire services should be actively engaged in determining the needs and objectives of fire services; and

     WHEREAS, the fire marshal division should be relocated either as a standalone entity or as an administratively attached entity in an appropriate state department;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico municipal league and New Mexico counties be requested to convene a working group to evaluate relocation options for the fire marshal division of the public regulation commission; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be composed of representatives of the:

          A. homeland security and emergency management department;

          B. department of public safety;

          C. office of superintendent of insurance;

          D. public regulation commission;

          E. fire marshal division of the public regulation commission;

          F. New Mexico fire chiefs association;

          G. fire and emergency managers affiliate of New Mexico counties;

          H. New Mexico state firefighters association;

          I. New Mexico emergency medical technicians association;

          J. New Mexico fire marshal's association;

          K. metropolitan fire chiefs association; and

          L. New Mexico professional fire fighters association; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group be requested to report its findings and conclusions to the appropriate interim legislative committee by September 1, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the executive director of the New Mexico municipal league, the executive director of New Mexico counties, the secretary of homeland security and emergency management, the secretary of public safety, the superintendent of insurance, the chair of the public regulation commission, the director of the fire marshal division of the public regulation commission, the president of the New Mexico fire chiefs association, the president of the New Mexico state firefighters association, the president of the New Mexico emergency medical technicians association, the president of the New Mexico fire marshal's association, the president of the metropolitan fire chiefs association and the president of the New Mexico professional fire fighters association.

- 4 -