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HOUSE MEMORIAL 52

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Miguel P. Garcia

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE A

TASK FORCE TO STUDY WHETHER TO ADD WORKERS' COMPENSATION

COVERAGE FOR FARM AND RANCH LABORERS.

WHEREAS, the workers' compensation administration is

charged with administering the workers' compensation laws of

this state; and

WHEREAS, current workers' compensation law applies to

employers of three or more workers in most cases; and

WHEREAS, current workers' compensation law allows an

exemption for farm and ranch laborers; and

WHEREAS, covering farm and ranch laborers could have a

significant fiscal impact for businesses and for the state; and

WHEREAS, eligibility for workers' compensation insurance

could have a significant impact on the farm and ranch laborers

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.166278.1

who are not currently covered;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the workers'

compensation administration be requested to create a task force

to study the fiscal and policy implications of adding farm and

ranch laborers to workers' compensation coverage; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the workers' compensation

administration create a task force of equal numbers of persons

who are actively engaged as farm and ranch business owners,

persons who are farm and ranch laborers and their advocates and

persons who are with the workers' compensation administration;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the workers' compensation

administration report to the appropriate interim committee the

conclusions and recommendations of the task force by November

2007 and draft appropriate legislation in response to the

conclusions of the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the advisory council on workers' compensation

and occupational disease disablement compensation, the workers'

compensation administration, the secretary of labor and the

governor.

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