0001|                       SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 56
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0002|     43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997
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0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
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0004|                             CYNTHIA NAVA
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0005|     
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0006|                                   
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0007|     
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0008|       FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
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0009|     
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0010|                           A JOINT MEMORIAL
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0011|     REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT A TASK FORCE TO CONSIDER
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0012|     ACTIONS TO CORRECT PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH REIMBURSEMENT OF
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0013|     SERVICE PROVIDERS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE HUMAN
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0014|     SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES
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0015|     DEPARTMENT. 
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0016|     
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0017|          WHEREAS, much of the business of the state is accomplished
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0018|     by private entrepreneurs, vendors and contractors; and
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0019|          WHEREAS, when the state receives services rendered by
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0020|     private business pursuant to a purchase agreement or contract
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0021|     for services it is legally and morally incumbent upon the state
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0022|     to pay its bills; and
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0023|          WHEREAS, private businesses depend on customers and
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0024|     clients to pay their bills or those private businesses
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0025|     providing products and services to the state may be faced with
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0001|     credit claims being pressed against them or even forced into
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0002|     bankruptcy; and
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0003|          WHEREAS, businesses and private individuals must pay their
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0004|     bills or be subject to legal action; and
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0005|          WHEREAS, many of the businesses that provide services to
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0006|     the department of health, the human services department and the
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0007|     children, youth and families department have not been paid for
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0008|     their services, sometimes carrying debts by the state for as
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0009|     long as two years; and
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0010|          WHEREAS, repeated efforts by service contractors and
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0011|     vendors to obtain payment from the state for their services
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0012|     have failed;
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0013|          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
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0014|     STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to form a
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0015|     task force to determine the source of the problems of unpaid
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0016|     bills of the state and correct those problems, making the
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0017|     necessary payments for unreimbursed claims against the state;
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0018|     and
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0019|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretaries of finance and
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0020|     administration, health, human services and children, youth and
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0021|     families be directed by the governor to cooperate with the
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0022|     small business community, state vendors and contractors,
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0023|     service providers and provider associations to pay the state's
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0024|     bills; and
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0025|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its
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0001|     actions to the appropriate committee designated by the New
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0002|     Mexico legislative council by December 1, 1997; and
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0003|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
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0004|     transmitted to the governor, the secretaries of finance and
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0005|     administration, health, human services and children, youth and
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0006|     families.
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0007|                              
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