44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO MODIFY TIME ZONE BOUNDARIES TO INCLUDE NEW MEXICO IN THE CENTRAL TIME ZONE.

WHEREAS, many citizens of New Mexico have expressed frustration with the twice yearly adjustment of time mandated by the congress of the United States and would prefer to remain on mountain daylight time throughout the year and reap the many benefits thereof; and

WHEREAS, the federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 has preempted the right of a state to elect to remain on daylight time but does allow a state to elect to remain on standard time; and

WHEREAS, an adjustment of the time zone boundaries to include New Mexico in the central time zone would allow New Mexico to observe time that is advanced one hour from mountain standard time and thus would be the equivalent of observing mountain daylight time all year; and

WHEREAS, the change to central standard time would extend daylight all year and provide in the winter months the benefits that accompany longer daylight in the evening hours, including reductions in crime, traffic accidents, pedestrian fatalities and energy consumption; and

WHEREAS, in an era when increasing numbers of New Mexico businesses are striving to increase their markets outside of the boundaries of New Mexico, it would be a benefit to those businesses to conduct operations in closer synchronization with those of businesses in the major commercial centers of the eastern and central time zones; and

WHEREAS, the change to the central time zone would put New Mexico on the same time as the vast majority of Mexico and thus would enhance commerce and trade with Mexico;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of the United States department of transportation be requested to exercise his authority to modify the boundaries of the time zones to include New Mexico in the central time zone; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of the United States department of transportation, the governor of New Mexico and the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.