NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

The LFC is only preparing FIRs on bills referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The chief clerks are responsible for preparing and issuing all other bill analyses.

Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Internet/Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Room 416 of the State Capitol Building.

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Conflicts with SJR16

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Highway and Transportation Department (SHTD)

Secretary of State

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HTC Substitute as Amended by HTC

The House Transportation Committee substitute, as amended by HTC, for HB339 specifies a phased-in schedule for the appointment by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, of highway commissioners from each congressional district. The substitute specifies that each member must reside in the district they would represent.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The SHTD indicates it is organized internally around the six highway districts, and believes the highway commissioners should represent the districts as organized within the department.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

The bill conflicts with SJR16 which proposes highway commissioners be elected from the districts that correspond with the Public Regulation Commission districts.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The current highway districts are set in 67-3-3 NMSA 1978 and represent contiguous counties, not percentage of highway miles in ratio to the entire state system, nor population counts or traffic flow patterns.

RAE/gm