HOUSE MEMORIAL 49

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Javier Martínez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY METHODS TO FOSTER GROWTH FOR NEW MEXICO'S COOPERATIVE BUSINESS ECONOMY AND EMPLOYEE-OWNED BUSINESSES.

     WHEREAS, cooperatives are businesses that are member-owned and operate for the mutual benefit of members; and

     WHEREAS, there are estimated to be more than forty thousand cooperatives in the United States, with more than one hundred million member-owners; and

     WHEREAS, the United Nations declared 2012 as the international year of cooperatives to raise awareness of cooperatives' important contributions to global socioeconomic development and to promote the growth and strengthening of cooperatives worldwide; and

     WHEREAS, cooperatives have been created for agriculture, child care, credit, health care, housing, insurance, telephone and electricity and other businesses; and

     WHEREAS, cooperatives are organized to strengthen bargaining power, maintain access to competitive markets, capitalize on new market opportunities, obtain needed products and services on a competitive basis, improve income opportunities, reduce costs and manage risk; and

     WHEREAS, there are a number of cooperatives in New Mexico, including electrical, telecommunication, agricultural and food-distribution cooperatives; and

     WHEREAS, worker-owned businesses align the interests of companies with their employees to foster a long-term focus on securing more sustainable growth, and employee ownership and engagement can increase workers' well-being and productivity; and

     WHEREAS, according to U.S. News and World Report, the number of worker-owned businesses in the United States is growing robustly at around six percent per year, and these businesses now account for about twelve percent of the private-sector work force; and

     WHEREAS, worker ownership has the potential to be a force for systemic change in workplaces and in the economy, fostering widespread worker empowerment and workplace democracy; and

     WHEREAS, cooperatives and employee-owned businesses play a crucial role in reducing poverty, increasing profitability and generating employment opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, a study to determine the feasibility of expanding and strengthening cooperative economies and opportunities for employee-owned businesses in New Mexico would be beneficial;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of economic development be requested to convene a task force to study methods to foster growth for New Mexico's cooperative business economy and employee-owned businesses; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include representatives of worker-owner resource groups and representatives of cooperative business projects and initiatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to report its findings and recommendations resulting from the study to the appropriate interim committee of the legislature by October 1, 2015; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report include a plan for implementation of the recommendations of the task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council and the secretary of economic development.

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