SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 16

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

James G. Taylor

FOR THE WELFARE REFORM OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

A JOINT MEMORIAL

PROVIDING FOR A STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WELFARE REFORM POLICIES.

     WHEREAS, ten years ago, the state of New Mexico instituted new welfare policies that required those on public assistance to work; and

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico remains among the poorest states in the country and ranks higher in poverty than the national average in every single age group; and

     WHEREAS, almost one-half of New Mexico's homeless people work but earn too little for a permanent home; and

     WHEREAS, families of the working poor continue to earn substantially less than the federal poverty level; and

     WHEREAS, disparity among New Mexico residents is striking as seen when comparing the Pueblo of Zuni, with over one-half of its population in poverty, with the richest county in the United States, Los Alamos county; and

     WHEREAS, requiring both parents in two-parent families to work has had an impact on the need for child care and before- and after-school programs; and

      WHEREAS, data on how long people employed under the temporary assistance for needy families program remain in the work force after initial placement is not currently available; and

     WHEREAS, data on the average annual earnings of those employed through the temporary assistance for needy families program is not currently available; and

     WHEREAS, such information is critical to the welfare reform oversight committee's role;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human services department be requested to collect such data and to convene a working families task force to examine and report on the data and on the effectiveness of the welfare reform measures undertaken in the past decade, comparing incomes, earnings and employment longevity of program participants and other relevant data from the start of the temporary assistance for needy families program to the year 2005; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working families task force report to the welfare reform oversight committee by October 2006 on the effectiveness of the welfare reform measures undertaken in the past decade; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include designees of the secretary of human services, the secretary of children, youth and families, the secretary of Indian affairs, the executive director of the office of workforce training and development and five representatives of appropriate community groups whose charters include serving the state's poorest people; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services, the secretary of children, youth and families, the secretary of Indian affairs and the executive director of the office of workforce training and development.

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