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| SPONSOR: | Eisenstadt | DATE TYPED: | 1/27/00 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Create NM Telecommunications Council | SB | 124 | ||||
| ANALYST: | Valenzuela | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY00 | FY01 | FY00 | FY01 | ||
| $ 10.0 | $ 50.0 | Recurring | General Fund | ||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Economic Development Department (EDD)
State Department of Education
Commission on Higher Education
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 124 creates a nine-member New Mexico telecommunications council and appropriates $10.0 in general fund to provide mileage and per diem for quarterly meetings. Section 1 of the bill highlights the importance for New Mexico to implement an ongoing, comprehensive planning process to evaluate and make recommendations on the needs for telecommunications throughout the state. Section 2 identifies the structure of the council, which would be administratively attached to the Economic Development Department (EDD): 3 members appointed by the Governor, 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and 3 members appointed by the Senate Pro Tempore, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Section 3 outlines the council's duties.
Significant Issues
A number of state agencies have responsibility for addressing similar issues illuminated in Senate Bill 124, most notable of which is the 13-member Information Technology Commission (ITC). Additionally, the Public Regulation Commission is tasked with implementing a regulatory framework to improve the telecommunications infrastructure in New Mexico; the General Services Department monitors the statewide infrastructure; and the Economic Development Department issues policy papers on the status of telecommunications in New Mexico.
The bill does state that the appointments to the Council "reflect the ethnic, economic, geographic and professional diversity of the state". The bill does not require appointments to be made based on geographical regions, which could potentially be the most important consideration for the Council.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Senate Bill 124 requires the Economic Development Department to staff the council. However, the agency argues it does not have the resources to fulfill this duty and would require one additional position for approximately $50.0 annually.
MFV/njw