2015 Position Papers

Below you can find 2015 Legislative priorities position papers.

To see the Legislative Priorities Administrative Resolution (AR-2014-77), please click here. To see position papers for the Legislative Priorities, please click on the underlined items below.

Oppose any legislation that a) proposes any revenue reductions, b) adversely affects funding sources, or c) diminishes the county's regulatory authority, provided however that some revenue and regulatory related proposals that promote economic development and job creation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Introduce legislation to create a forensic aftercare unit to provide community-based clinical, rehabilitative and supervisory services to individuals who are pending competency assessment.

Support legislation to provide funding for mental health and substance abuse programs and services that may include, but not be limited to: triage, stabilization, respite and case management services; supportive housing for individuals with mental illness, addiction or co-occurring disorders; intensive case managements; community engagement teams; and mobile crisis response teams.

Support legislation that will expand Medicaid and non-Medicaid state behavioral health funding coverage and reimbursement for mental health and substance abuse services.

Amend NMSA 1978 34-7-1, Probate Judge Authorized, and/or other appropriate section/s, to include language for judicial requirement to include an active New Mexico bar license in good standing, with a minimum of two years practice experience, for counties with a population of 600,000 or more.

Amend NMSA 1978 34-7-14, Fees of Probate Court Clerks, to increase the docket filing fee from $30 to $50.

Amend the Tax Administration Act to revise the procedure for correcting GRT distributions and transfers to provide counties sufficient time to review, acknowledge and adjust their budgets.

Yield Control Issues:

Amend Section 7-38-34 NMSA 1978 which requires boards of county commissioners to issue and deliver to the county assessor its own order imposing the 2013 Property Tax Rates within five days of its receipt from the State of New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Local Government Division.
Amend Section 7-37-7 NMSA 1978 Property Tax Language. Request that the legislature appoint a committee of state and local economic and finance professionals tasked to develop a mechanism allowing taxing authorities the ability to decrease or maintain prior year tax rates while maintaining the intent of the property tax law. In addition, the committee must establish a list of financial and economic criteria that must be met by the local government entity and reviewed and approved by DFA prior to approving the local government budget.

Clarify state law concerning the authority of New Mexico counties to establish user fees with utilities.

Introduce memorial that amends the State Procurement Code exemption(s) to include Pay Equity Disclosure and Best Practice

Early childhood development:

Support legislation that increases funding for mental health and substance abuse counseling in public schools.
Support funding for early childhood intervention programs.

Support funding for early residential substance abuse treatment and supportive aftercare services for children and adolescents in New Mexico.

Support legislation that would provide for limited liability in agritourism activities.

Support legislative funding for HB542 Community Schools Act that provides extended learning opportunities, increases family engagement and support services, and supports school-based or linked health care.

Introduce legislation to extend the term of the Bernalillo County Criminal Justice Reform Commission created by the legislature in HB 608 in 2013, for a fixed term expiring on July 1, 2015 to a ten-year term, and to remain under the supervision of the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Support legislation to fund the initiatives of the Bernalillo County Criminal Justice Reform Commission by providing funds for the reforms necessary to advance the criminal justice system in Bernalillo County.

To see position papers for the capital outlay appropriation requests, please click on the underlined items below.

A resolution establishing the legislative capital outlay priorities for Bernalillo County for the fifty-second legislature, first session, of the State of New Mexico.

Community Services Division

Public Works Division

Public Safety Division

2. Support Legislator-sponsored capital outlay legislation that is consistent with the priorities set by the County.

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