Continuing our review of House action, NM Representatives passed the severance tax bond bill, SB 60, by a vote of 66 - 0. UNM has more than $10 million in projects in that bill. It now goes to the Governor. 

This morning House Appropriations gave a do pass recommendation to SB 115, which is the ERB solvency plan, after further amending it.

You'll recall the bill, as it came out of the Senate, had reduced COLAs for current and future retirees - an average 1.8 percent COLA for those getting pensions under the median of $1500 a month and who worked for the full 25 years. For everyone else, the COLA is reduced to an average 1.6 percent.

The amendment put on today, which was championed by Speaker Ken Martinez, stipulates that once the fund reaches 90 percent solvency, the COLA reductions will drop in half to approx. 1.9 percent and 1.8 percent respectively. This will be in place until the fund reaches its 100.7 percent solvency.

It was mentioned that 90 percent solvency may not be reached for another 26 years, but that the concession does have an important psychological effect for retirees.

HAFC Deputy Chair Lucky Varela (D-Santa Fe), referring to the increased contributions coming from employees, used the opportunity to call on the Governor to refrain from vetoing the one percent pay increase found in the state budget now sitting on her desk.

The bill, once it gets through the full House, will have to go back to the Senate for concurrence, but its sponsor, Sen. Stuart Ingle (R-Portales) is confident that will happen. There are two days and change left to get this done.

HOUSE THIRD READING OF LEGISLATION

11. HOUSE MEMORIAL 75. A MEMORIAL REQUESTING THE HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO TO CREATE THE J.PAUL TAYLOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TASK FORCE
AS AN INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE COLLABORATION AMONG EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS, TO BETTER IDENTIFY CHILDREN AT RISK OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, TO DEVELOP AN EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH PLAN AND TO IMPROVE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES SYSTEM AND PROMOTE EVIDENCE- AND COMMUNITY-BASED EARLYCHILDHOOD PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

19. HOUSE MEMORIAL 94, as amended. A MEMORIAL REQUESTING THAT THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT EXAMINE STATE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE LEGISLATIVE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND ACCOMPANYING BUDGET AND FUNDING PROCESSES,TO IDENTIFY WHERE TRIBAL COLLEGES ARE EXCLUDED.

26. HOUSE MEMORIAL 101. A MEMORIAL REQUESTING THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO FORM A WORK GROUP TO STUDY THE SOLVENCY OF THE LOTTERY TUITION FUND AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

42. SENATE BILL 349. AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION; RAISING THE CAP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ATTORNEY LOAN REPAYMENTS.

47. SENATE BILL 416, as amended. AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR; RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE.53. SENATE BILL 587, as amended. AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; CREATING A STATE SCHOOL GRADES COUNCIL TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SCHOOL GRADING; PROVIDING A TEMPORARY SCHEMA THAT INCLUDES MULTIPLE VALID AND RELIABLE FACTORS IN DETERMINING SCHOOL GRADES; AMENDING A SECTION OF LAW TO ELIMINATE REFERENCE TO SCHOOL GRADING; REPEALING THE A-B-C-D-F SCHOOLS RATING ACT.

64. SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL 310, as amended, with emergency clause. AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CHANGING ELIGIBILITY AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE K-3 PLUS PROGRAM; USING TENTH- DAY ENROLLMENT DATA FOR FUNDING; CLARIFYING NOTICE OF APPLICATION DEADLINES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

67. SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 422, as amended. AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROHIBITING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION FROM REQUESTING OR REQUIRING A STUDENT, APPLICANT OR POTENTIAL APPLICANT FOR ADMISSION TO PROVIDE A PASSWORD OR ACCESS TO THE SOCIAL NETWORKING ACCOUNT OF THE STUDENT OR APPLICANT FOR ADMISSION.

HOUSE SCHEDULE OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS AND FINANCE COMMITTEE - HENRY "KIKI" SAAVEDRA, CHAIRMAN
Thursday, March 14, 2013 – Room 307
TO BE ANNOUNCED
We understand HAFC will meet at 8:30 a.m.  with SB 115a on the agenda.

HOUSE CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - ELISEO LEE ALCON, CHAIRMAN
Thursday, March 14, 2013 - 1:30 PM or immediately after floor session - Room 315
SB 403 /a HEALTH ALL-PAYER CLAIMS DATABASE TASK FORCE (LOPEZ)
SJM 1 FAMILY-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE TASK FORCE (RUE)

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE - GAIL CHASEY, CHAIRWOMAN
Thursday, March 14, 2013 - 8:30 a.m. - Room 317
SB 266 ARCHITECTURE MULTIPLE SOURCE CONTRACTS (GRIEGO)
SB 313 /a BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ACT (O'NEILL)

Meanwhile....

While we wait to see what the House does with ERB solvency, the Senate has a mega-agenda to get through ...153 items not counting the business on the President's table. Senators worked late and are scheduled back on the floor at 10:30 a.m.

SENATE THIRD READING OF LEGISLATION:

(13) SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR (MUÑOZ)
SENATE BILL 71 RETIREE HEALTH CARE CONTRIBUTIONS

(14) SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR (BEFFORT)
SENATE BILL 86 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE AVERAGE SALARY CALCULATIONS

(51) SENATE MEMORIAL 63/a TOBACCO-FREE COLLEGE CAMPUSES/SRC AMENDED (CERVANTES)

(74) HOUSE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR (EASLEY)
HOUSE BILL 171 INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TELEMEDICINE SERVICES

(102) HOUSE BILL 204/a NURSE EDUCATOR HIGHER DEGREE FUNDING/ (MCMILLAN)
HEC AMENDED

(105) HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR (GARCIA, MH)
HOUSE BILL 424 EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS

(126) HOUSE BILL 260/aa ORIENTAL MEDICINE DOCTOR IMAGING LICENSURE/ (KANE)
HHGIC AMENDED/SPAC AMENDED

(129) HOUSE BILL 416 ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT SUPERVISION (CHASEY)

SENATE SCHEDULE OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS

FINANCE COMMITTEE - Senator John Arthur Smith, Chairman
Thursday, March 14, 2013
At the Call of the Chair - Room 322

PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE - Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino, Chairman
Thursday, March 14, 2013 – 8:30 a.m. - Room 321
HJM 19 J. PAUL TAYLOR EARLY CHILDHOOD TASK FORCE (CHASEY)

RULES COMMITTEE - Senator Linda M. Lopez, Chairman
At the Call of the Chair - TBA
HB 339 ANNUAL EDUCATOR ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT DATE (MIERA)
HJM 29 LESC A-F SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEM STUDY (STEWART)

Bills Acted on: March 13, 2013

HB 2 GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2013  Henry Kiki Saavedra
PASS <2> HAFC <28> DNP-CS/DP <30> PASSED/H (53-16) <21> SFC <40> DP/a - PASSED/S (42-0) <50> h/cncrd

HB 20 EQUITY INVESTMENTS FOR COLLEGE ENDOWMENTS  Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales
Timothy M.Keller SFC HPREF <2> HEC/HAFC-HEC <22> DP/a-HAFC <32> DP <34> PASSED/H (62-0) <23> SEC/SFC-SEC <44> DP-SFC

HB 130 MOVE BRAIN INJURY SERVICE FUND  Larry A. Larrañaga
SCal <2> HHGIC/HAFC-HHGIC <17> DP-HAFC <30> DP <31> PASSED/H (62-0) <22> SPAC/SFC-SPAC <44> DP-SFC- w/drn

HB 171 INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TELEMEDICINE SERVICES  Stephen Easley
SCal <5> HHGIC/HBIC-HHGIC <21> DP-HBIC <39> DNP-CS/DP - PASSED/H (67-0) <40> SJC <44> DP

HB 260 ORIENTAL MEDICINE DOCTOR IMAGING LICENSURE  Emily Kane
SJC <7> HHGIC/HJC-HHGIC <26> DP/a-HJC <36> DP - PASSED/H (64-0) <24> SPAC/SJC-SPAC <44> DP/a-SJC

HB 310 K-3 PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY  Mimi Stewart
WilliamSoules HCal <10> HEC <26> DP <29> PASSED/H (63-0) <21> SEC/SPAC-SEC <24> DNP-CS/DP-SPAC <38> DP <40> PASSED/S (39-0) <50> HEC- DP/a

HB 541 TEACHER LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY & COUNCIL  Rick Miera
PASS <21> HEC <36> DP - PASSED/H (37-30) <24> SEC <40> DP <44> PASSED/S (27-11)

HB 562 CREATE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE  Stephanie Garcia Richard
SCal <22> HBIC/HEC-HBIC <36> DP-HEC <39> DP - PASSED/H (65-3) <40> SEC <44> DP

HM 101 LOTTERY TUITION FUND SOLVENCY WORK GROUP  Mimi Stewart
HCal <50> HEC- DP

SB 27 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT CHANGES  George K. Munoz
Luciano "Lucky"Varela PASS SPREF <1> SJC/SFC-SJC <14> DP/a-SFC <23> DNP-CS/DP/a <32> PASSED/S (38-4) <39> HLC/HAFC-HLC- DP-HAFC- DP <50> PASSED/H (48-17)

SB 39 COLLEGE DISTRICT BONDS FOR HARD & SOFTWARE  Sander Rue
PASS SPREF <1> SEC/SFC-SEC <12> DP-SFC <14> DP <18> PASSED/S (39-1) <28> HBIC/HTRC-HBIC <39> DP-HTRC <50> DP - PASSED/H (68-0)

*SB 60 SEVERANCE TAX BOND PROJECTS  Carlos R. Cisneros
PASS SPREF <1> SFC <38> DNP-CS/DP <40> PASSED/S (42-0) <39> HTRC <50> DP - PASSED/H (66-0)

SB 69 INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TELEMEDICINE COVERAGE  Gerald Ortiz y Pino
SCNR SPREF <1> SCORC/SJC-SCORC <4> w/o rec-SJC <14> DNP-CS/DP - PASSED/S (37-0) <22> HHGIC/HJC-HHGIC <36> DP/a-HJC <39> DP/a <50> fl/a- PASSED/H (68-0)

SB 115 EDUCATIONAL RETIREMENT CHANGES  Stuart Ingle
HAFC <1> SEC/SFC-SEC <12> DP-SFC <38> DP/a <40> PASSED/S (41-0) <39> HLC/HAFC-HLC <50> DP-HAFC

SB 313 BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ACT  Bill B. O'Neill
HJC <4> SPAC/SJC-SPAC <14> DNP-CS/DP-SJC <24> DP/a - PASSED/S (23-16) <39> HCPAC/HJC-HCPAC <50> DP-HJC

SB 422 NO COLLEGE REQUESTS FOR STUDENT SOCIAL MEDIA  Jacob Candelaria
HCal <8> SEC/SJC-SEC <23> DP-SJC <40> DNP-CS/DP - fl/a- PASSED/S (29-13) <39> HEC <50> DP/a

SB 588 TEACHER & PRINCIPAL EVALUATION SYSTEM COUNCIL  Howie C. Morales
HCal <14> SRC/SEC-SRC <24> DP-SEC <40> DP - fl/aa- PASSED/S (21-18) <50> HEC- DP/a

*SB 608 PHYSICIAN CONTRACT NOT TO COMPETE COVENANTS  Stuart Ingle
SJC <14> not prntd-SFC <44> DNP-CS/w/o rec - ref SJC-SJC

SB 632 LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING  Michael S. Sanchez
SFC <14> not prntd-SJC <44> DNP-CS/w/o rec - ref SFC-SFC

SJM 34 STUDY A-F SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEM  Howie C. Morales
HEC <13> SRC/SEC-SRC <23> DP-SEC <32> DP/a <44> PASSED/S (31-5) <50> HEC

SM 72 TRUANCY & DROPOUT PREVENTION TASK FORCE  Gay G. Kernan
PASS <22> SRC/SEC-SRC <24> DP-SEC <40> DP <44> PASSED/S (38-0).

SM 101 LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP FUND SOLVENCY WORK GROUP  Michael S. Sanchez
SEC <44> SEC

Susan McKinsey, Office of Government and Community Relations