0001|                       SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 25
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0002|     43RD LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 1998
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0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
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0004|                          JOHN ARTHUR SMITH
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0005|     
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0006|                                   
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0007|     
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0008|     
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0009|     
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0010|                           A JOINT MEMORIAL
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0011|     REQUESTING THE APPROPRIATE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO TAKE TESTIMONY
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0012|     ON THE MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
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0013|     
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0014|          WHEREAS, the law says that the purpose of the department
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0015|     of public safety is to "consolidate state law enforcement and
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0016|     safety functions in order to provide better management, real
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0017|     coordination and more efficient use of state resources and
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0018|     manpower in responding to New Mexico's public safety needs and
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0019|     problems..."; and
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0020|          WHEREAS, the department never has been an agency that
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0021|     performs single-agency, comprehensive public safety functions,
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0022|     as there are a number of public safety functions that reside
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0023|     in other agencies; for example, the state fire marshal and the
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0024|     firefighter's academy are in the state corporation commission;
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0025|     and motor transportation law enforcement functions are in the
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0001|     taxation and revenue department; and
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0002|          WHEREAS, it is important for the legislature and the
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0003|     executive to analyze and evaluate the appropriateness of
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0004|     current government structure as it relates to public safety;
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0005|          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
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0006|     STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative council assign the
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0007|     appropriate legislative interim committee to take testimony on
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0008|     the mission of the department of public safety vis-a-vis other
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0009|     state agencies responsible for public safety issues; and
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0010|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the testimony include an
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0011|     analysis and evaluation of a variety of issues, including:
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0012|               A.  the status of the state crime laboratory;
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0013|               B.  the effectiveness of satellite law enforcement
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0014|     training academies located throughout the state;
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0015|               C.  the moribund state of the governor's organized
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0016|     crime prevention commission; and
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0017|               D.  the feasibility of permitting small communities
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0018|     to contract with the department of public safety for law
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0019|     enforcement services; and
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0020|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
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0021|     transmitted to the legislative council, the governor and the
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0022|     secretary of public safety.
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0023|                              
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