SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 33
51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013
INTRODUCED BY
Cisco McSorley
A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES IN NEW MEXICO TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSFERRING LIQUOR LICENSE ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE ALCOHOL AND GAMING DIVISION OF THE REGULATION AND LICENSING DEPARTMENT TO MUNICIPALITIES.
WHEREAS, New Mexico's alarming incidence of alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths and injuries is among the highest in the nation; and
WHEREAS, alcohol-related incidents and illnesses are the leading cause of death in many Native American communities in New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the public safety departments of municipal and county governments are well-qualified to determine the wishes of their constituents; and
WHEREAS, the special investigations division of the department of public safety enforces criminal violations of the Liquor Control Act; and
WHEREAS, because the alcohol and gaming division of the regulation and licensing department is currently responsible for laws relating to the sale and transfer of alcohol and for administrative enforcement of laws relating to liquor licenses, the effectiveness of enforcement of liquor licensing laws is compromised;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that representatives from the department of public safety and municipal and county governments be requested to study the possible transfer of liquor license enforcement responsibilities from the alcohol and gaming division of the regulation and licensing department to counties and municipalities with liquor control laws that are equivalent or more stringent than the state's Liquor Control Act; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that those representatives report the findings of their study to the appropriate legislative interim committee by October 2013; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of public safety.
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