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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Department of Labor (DOL)

Administrative Office of the Courts

No comments were received from several agencies which were asked to comment on this bill.

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

The bill would create a New Mexico Futures Commission with twelve members, six appointed by the governor, three by the president pro tempore of the Senate, and three by the speaker of the House of Representatives. Members will serve two year terms with a maximum of four full terms. The members who are not state employees would be paid per diem and mileage per the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

The Futures Commission would establish a strategic planning process including:

• a method to ensure broad-based statewide participation,
• an information-gathering component by which to assess current economic conditions and trends,
• an analysis of the state's strengths, weaknesses and opportunities,
• the establishment of goals, objectives and strategies for implementation,
• a procedure for measuring performance, and
• a procedure for periodic review and refinement of the planning process.

The commission would work with planning and development districts to coordinate regional planning development and to ensure that the strategic planning process reflects statewide initiative. It would also look at public and private sector approaches in developing its strategic planning process. Prior to December 1 each year, the commission would prepare and submit a report to the governor and legislature on the status of strategic planning and implementation of the strategic plan. Commission employees would be exempt from the provisions of the Personnel Act.

The bill would appropriate $135.0 general fund in FY2000 to the Futures Commission to carry out the provisions of the bill. The appropriation is contingent on an equal contribution from the private sector. Unexpended balances remaining at the end of FY2000 would revert to the general fund.

Significant Issues

The goal of this bill is to develop a statewide strategic planning process which would help the state to manage its resources wisely to preserve them for future generations. The legislation seeks to design a comprehensive planning process which reflects the geographic and cultural composition of New Mexico.

If successfully implemented, this bill should help identify the collective objectives of state government, strategies for achieving those objectives and measures which could be used to gauge progress toward achieving these objectives. At a time when New Mexico ranks at the bottom of most performance measures (poverty rate 50^th, unemployment 50^th, crime rate 44^th, infectious diseases 48^th, quality of life for children 50^th), a strategic planning effort such as this might facilitate development of programs and measures which would demonstrate progress toward improving the quality of life in the state, as well as conservation of the state's natural resources.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The bill does not specify that the Futures Commission can accept donations, nor does it create a fund into which donations would be deposited, nor does it authorize the Commission to spend donated funds.

DH/njw