CHAPTER 76

CHAPTER 76, LAWS 2002

AN ACT

RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS; REQUIRING CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS TO UPDATE THE ALL-HAZARDS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN AND CONDUCT TESTS OF THE PLAN; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

Section 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--ALL-HAZARDS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN.--The department of public safety, in conjunction with the department of health, shall:

A. review the current all-hazards emergency operations plan and revise the plan to ensure that the state has in place the procedures necessary to respond to an emergency or disaster that causes or threatens widespread physical or economic harm and that requires the resources of the state;

B. conduct two statewide emergency tests, the first by July 31, 2002 and the second by October 31, 2002, to ensure that chain-of-command procedures, communications systems, transportation systems, technology, facilities and other mechanisms of emergency response are in working order and that each component has a contingency plan;

C. provide progress reports on plan updates and testing status at least once every sixty days to the legislative health and human services committee or the legislative finance committee; and

D. provide the legislative health and human services committee or the legislative finance committee with its findings and recommendations for legislative initiatives and funding proposals by November 30, 2002.

Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION.--The department of public safety shall complete the activities pursuant to this act and provide its final report to the governor and the legislature by December 31, 2002.

Section 3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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HOUSE BILL 261, AS AMENDED

WITH EMERGENCY CLAUSE

SIGNED MARCH 5, 2002