Sen. Eric Griego is proposing to create the New Mexico Department of Commerce and Economic Development, which would combine four separate departments into one.

Under Griego’s plan, detailed in SB242, the departments of economic development, tourism, regulations and licensing, and workforce solutions would be consolidated.

“The purpose of the Commerce and Economic Development Department Act is to establish a single, unified department to administer laws and exercise functions formerly administered and exercised by the economic development department, the tourism department, the workforce solutions department and the regulation and licensing department,” the bill says.

The new department would handle everything from alcohol and gaming to construction industries, even the New Mexico Film Bureau.

The secretary of the department would have the authority to further consolidate or eliminate divisions of the department “for better efficiency and effectiveness,” according to the bill.

The department would also be tasked with several specific actions, including the implementation of the state’s economic development and tourism plans, promotion of Indian arts, crafts and culture, and promotion of defense-related technology.

If passed, the 219-page bill would require all functions, appropriations, property and contractual obligations to be transferred from the various departments being consolidated to the new department.

This page was published on February 3, 2010 at 2:33pm and is filed under Reform.