AN ACT
RELATING TO STATE PLANNING; CREATING
THE NEW MEXICO HORIZONS TASK FORCE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN
EMERGENCY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF
THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.--
A. The legislature finds that the growing
complexity and interdependence of the modern world as demonstrated by, among
other factors, the changing workforce education needs, global environmental
change, the aging population, international trade, the ever-growing number of
working poor and the demand for fundamental changes in the role of government
require that government policymakers establish a long-range, strategic planning
process to assist them in setting policy direction and goals for state and
local governments.
B. The legislature also finds that alternative
budgeting and evaluation processes may be used to ensure that the policies and
goals established through the strategic planning process are implemented.
C. It is the purpose of this act to create a
"New Mexico horizons task force" that shall recommend to the
legislature and the governor a comprehensive strategic planning process for New
Mexico, which shall involve all segments of New Mexico, including state, local
and tribal governments and individuals from the private and public sectors from
the different geographic areas of the state.
Section 2. NEW MEXICO HORIZONS TASK
FORCE--CREATION--TERMINATION.--The "New Mexico horizons task force"
is created. The task force shall
function from the date of its appointment until December 31 prior to the first
session of the forty-seventh legislature.
Section 3. MEMBERSHIP--APPOINTMENT--VACANCIES.--
A. The New Mexico horizons task force shall be
composed of twenty-two members appointed as follows:
(1) three members from the house of
representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, of whom no more than two
shall be from the same party;
(2) three members from the senate, appointed by
the president pro tempore of the senate, of whom no more than two shall be from
the same party;
(3) four members appointed by the governor from
the executive branch; and
(4) eight members of the public, of whom two
shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, two shall be appointed by the
president pro tempore of the senate and four shall be appointed by the
governor. The speaker of the house, the
president pro tempore of the senate and the governor shall coordinate their
appointments of public members to ensure that the different geographical areas
of the state are represented, that the members reflect diverse expertise in the
private and public sectors, including public and private finance, business,
education, government and public planning and administration, and that no more
than four shall be from the same party.
B. The speaker of the house, the president pro
tempore of the senate, the governor and the chief justice of the supreme court
shall serve as ex-officio members.
C. The governor, in consultation with the
speaker of the house and the president pro tempore of the senate, shall appoint
the chair of the task force.
D. The public members of the task force shall be
paid per diem and mileage in accordance with the provisions of the Per Diem and
Mileage Act.
Section 4. DUTIES.--After their appointment, members of
the New Mexico horizons task force shall develop a work plan and budget for the
ensuing interim. The work plan and
budget shall be submitted to the New Mexico legislative council for
approval. Upon approval of the work plan
and budget by the legislative council, the task force shall:
A. in cooperation with the governor's office of
policy and planning, study and review strategic planning processes in other
states and determine the value such processes would have in New Mexico;
B. recommend to the legislature and the governor
a comprehensive strategic planning process for New Mexico that represents
citizens of the state from all sectors of the economy and from all geographic
areas of the state in the goal setting for the state;
C. in coordination with the legislative finance
committee, the legislative education study committee and the department of
finance and administration, review and assess how performance-based budgeting
and other budgeting processes can be improved to better assist in the
implementation of any strategic plan developed for the state; and
D. undertake other activities and make other
recommendations related to strategic planning as deemed necessary by the New
Mexico horizons task force.
Section 5. REPORT.--The New Mexico horizons task force
shall make a report of its findings and recommendations for the consideration
of the first session of the forty-seventh legislature. The report and suggested legislation shall be
made available to the New Mexico legislative council and the governor on or
before December 31 preceding that session.
Section 6. STAFF.--The staff for the New Mexico horizons
task force shall be provided by the legislative council service, the legislative
finance committee, the legislative education study committee, the governor's
office and the department of finance and administration. Additionally, the legislative council service
may contract at the direction of the task force for strategic planning assistance.
Section 7. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars
($100,000) is appropriated from legislative cash balances to the legislative
council service for expenditure in fiscal years 2003 through 2005 for the
purpose of paying the salaries, contracts and expenses of the technical, legal
and clerical assistants used in carrying out the provisions of this act and for
reimbursing the per diem and mileage expenses of the New Mexico horizons task
force and the tax study committee. Any
unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005
shall revert to legislative cash balances.
Payments from the appropriation shall be made by warrant issued by the
department of finance and administration upon vouchers signed by the director
of the legislative council service or the director's authorized representative.
Section 8. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public
peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.
HB 973
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