SENATE MEMORIAL 100

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Nancy Rodriguez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF INCREASING THE PER DIEM RATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.

     WHEREAS, the current per diem rate for public officers and employees is ninety-five dollars ($95.00) for nonsalaried officials and eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for employees per day; and

     WHEREAS, the per diem rate established by the federal government for the city of Santa Fe for lodging is one hundred twenty-three dollars ($123) per day for fiscal year 2019; and

     WHEREAS, the current state reimbursement for meals is thirty dollars ($30.00) a day in state compared with the federal rate for meals of sixty-one dollars ($61.00) per day; and

     WHEREAS, the state per diem rate for public officers and employees has not been changed since 2003, resulting in more employees relying on the use of actual cost reimbursement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of finance and administration be requested to convene a task force to study the feasibility of increasing the per diem rate for public officers and employees; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of representatives from New Mexico counties, the legislative finance committee and the New Mexico municipal league; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings and recommendations to the legislative finance committee by November 1, 2019; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of finance and administration, the director of the legislative finance committee, the executive director of New Mexico counties and the president of the board of directors of the New Mexico municipal league.

- 2 -