2018 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 2 - Legislative Branch
Article 5 - Legislative Fiscal Control
Section 2-5-4 - Legislative finance committee; additional duties.

A. The legislative finance committee, in addition to all other duties prescribed by law, shall annually review budgets and appropriations requests, and the operation and management of selected state agencies, departments and institutions and shall make recommendations with respect thereto to the legislature.

B. To carry out the purposes of this section, the legislative finance committee shall establish a budget analysis division staffed with persons knowledgeable and proficient in budget analysis and budget preparation.

C. Each state agency, department and institution shall furnish to the legislative finance committee a copy of its appropriation request made to the department of finance and administration at the same time such request is made to such department. Each state agency, department or institution shall also furnish to the legislative finance committee and its staff any other supporting information or data deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

D. The legislative finance committee, or, when it deems necessary, its staff may hold such hearings and require such testimony from officers and employees of each state agency, department or institution as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

E. Not later than the first week of any regular legislative session, the legislative finance committee shall furnish a document containing its budget recommendations to each member of the senate finance committee, the house appropriations and finance committee and to those other members of the legislature which may request it. A copy shall also be furnished to the governor and to the department of finance and administration.

History: 1953 Comp., § 2-5-3.1, enacted by Laws 1967, ch. 267, § 1.

Section authorizes the examination of the effect of laws governing finances and operation upon the proper functioning of governmental units and the policies and costs of governmental units as related to such laws, for the purpose of determining the need for any new laws concerning the finances and operation of the governmental units and for the repeal of old laws. 1957-58 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 57-118.

Section authorizes inquiry into policies and costs of a governmental unit as these are related to the operation and financial laws governing such a unit. 1957-58 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 57-118.

Inquiry as to the effectiveness of the operating policies of a governmental unit and the relationship of such policies on the costs of the governmental unit would be pertinent. 1957-58 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 57-118.

Examination of the books, records and operating policies is authorized, since to determine cost, specific inquiry would have to be made into items of costs as well as operating policies behind the expending of public money. 1957-58 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 57-118.