2018 AHCC Policy Positions
Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
Generally speaking, the AHCC does not support any initiative, any legislation or any regulation that imposes additional burdens on our members. However, the AHCC believes that a paid sick leave ordinance is inevitable and that the proposed ordinance has the concerns of the business community as currently written. It is our understanding that the authors of the ordinance will request an economic impact study on the proposed ordinance as well as the initiative that was defeated in October for comparison purposes. Therefore, the AHCC currently supports this ordinance as written but will carefully monitor and participate in the development of the final version that will go thru the city council process. At some point in time, the AHCC may oppose the ordinance should changes make the ordinance unsupportive.
Energy Redevelopment Act
The AHCC supports the Energy Redevelopment Bond Act (ERB) as it allows PNM with prior approval from the PRC, to issue debt to finance the cost of transitioning out of coal. The primary advantage of this financing option it that it reduces the costs associated with ongoing operations for PNM. Essentially this financing option allows PNM to isolate the costs of closing coal fired production facilities and exclude those costs in any future rate requests that the PRC would evaluate. The net impact to our membership would be lower energy costs in the future.
New Mexico Small Cell
The AHCC supports Wireless Consumer Advanced Wireless Technology (Small Cell) generally as consumers and businesses are using their mobile devices more than ever before to connect to everyone and everything around them. Small cells are a way to keep up with the demand. AHCC, therefore is in favor of bringing widespread infrastructure investment from the entire wireless industry to help All NM business thrive and grow. They are micro cells that can be attached to existing structures like street lights, utility poles and buildings to boost existing coverage. AHCC supports efforts to create certainty by eliminating a patchwork of local regulations and streamlining the process for small cell deployment, positioning New Mexico for greater investment in communications networks. AHCC believes that small cells create an advantage for communities trying to attract businesses that are reliant on strong wireless networks.
District Attorney’s Office Budget
The AHCC supports additional funding from the state to improve Public Safety in the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County area. The AHCC supports the funding requested by DA Torres for:
Tourism Budget
The AHCC has a Convention and Tourism Department and works closely with our tourism partners such as the NM Hospitality Association. Consistent with the Association, the AHCC supports the increase of $3.5M in the Tourism Budget.
Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax Study Memorial
The AHCC does not oppose any study to consider the merits and potential detriment of imposing taxes on any consumable products, but opposes a study which singles out certain products, such as soft drinks. AHCC also opposes any study premised upon the assumption that consumption of certain products, such as soft drinks, are the cause of obesity or diabetes.
The AHCC is agreeable to the positions of the Association of Commerce and Industry
University Regents
The AHCC supports action by the Senate Rules Committee to confirm University Regents nominated by the governor.
ACI SUPPORTS:
ACI OPPOSES:
Generally speaking, the AHCC does not support any initiative, any legislation or any regulation that imposes additional burdens on our members. However, the AHCC believes that a paid sick leave ordinance is inevitable and that the proposed ordinance has the concerns of the business community as currently written. It is our understanding that the authors of the ordinance will request an economic impact study on the proposed ordinance as well as the initiative that was defeated in October for comparison purposes. Therefore, the AHCC currently supports this ordinance as written but will carefully monitor and participate in the development of the final version that will go thru the city council process. At some point in time, the AHCC may oppose the ordinance should changes make the ordinance unsupportive.
Energy Redevelopment Act
The AHCC supports the Energy Redevelopment Bond Act (ERB) as it allows PNM with prior approval from the PRC, to issue debt to finance the cost of transitioning out of coal. The primary advantage of this financing option it that it reduces the costs associated with ongoing operations for PNM. Essentially this financing option allows PNM to isolate the costs of closing coal fired production facilities and exclude those costs in any future rate requests that the PRC would evaluate. The net impact to our membership would be lower energy costs in the future.
New Mexico Small Cell
The AHCC supports Wireless Consumer Advanced Wireless Technology (Small Cell) generally as consumers and businesses are using their mobile devices more than ever before to connect to everyone and everything around them. Small cells are a way to keep up with the demand. AHCC, therefore is in favor of bringing widespread infrastructure investment from the entire wireless industry to help All NM business thrive and grow. They are micro cells that can be attached to existing structures like street lights, utility poles and buildings to boost existing coverage. AHCC supports efforts to create certainty by eliminating a patchwork of local regulations and streamlining the process for small cell deployment, positioning New Mexico for greater investment in communications networks. AHCC believes that small cells create an advantage for communities trying to attract businesses that are reliant on strong wireless networks.
District Attorney’s Office Budget
The AHCC supports additional funding from the state to improve Public Safety in the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County area. The AHCC supports the funding requested by DA Torres for:
- Crime Strategy Unit (technology) and 2) an increase in the DA’s proposed base to provide additional FTE’s.
Tourism Budget
The AHCC has a Convention and Tourism Department and works closely with our tourism partners such as the NM Hospitality Association. Consistent with the Association, the AHCC supports the increase of $3.5M in the Tourism Budget.
Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax Study Memorial
The AHCC does not oppose any study to consider the merits and potential detriment of imposing taxes on any consumable products, but opposes a study which singles out certain products, such as soft drinks. AHCC also opposes any study premised upon the assumption that consumption of certain products, such as soft drinks, are the cause of obesity or diabetes.
The AHCC is agreeable to the positions of the Association of Commerce and Industry
University Regents
The AHCC supports action by the Senate Rules Committee to confirm University Regents nominated by the governor.
ACI SUPPORTS:
- Seed standardization legislation to ensure the consistent statewide regulation of seeds;
- Full and increased investment in strategic economic development programs such as JTIP, LEDA, and the Rapid Workforce Development fund, as well as enhancing the tools available, such as the high wage jobs tax credit, to incentivize business investment, and job creation;
- A statewide plan that directs and measures the efforts of public colleges and universities to increase educational attainment and expand research and economic development efforts in communities across the state;
- Policies that provide for the commercially viable development of energy infrastructure, including roads, oil and natural gas pipelines, electric transmission lines, energy storage, and electric and natural gas distribution systems that will benefit end-use markets, including such things as natural gas and electric vehicles and smart-grid technologies;
- Incentivizing New Mexico’s National Laboratories to create and continue community projects throughout the state, particularly those focused on technology transfer;
- The elimination of the State Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) standard and re-drafting of the state air quality regulations consistent with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, to make New Mexico competitive with other jurisdictions and alleviate unnecessary compliance costs;
- Maximization of federal funds through actions such as fully funding the state Medicaid program and Safety Net Care Pool;
- Expansion of the Administrative Hearing Office to conduct hearings on administrative adjudicatory actions arising from all state agencies using its own qualified, professional, objective, and independent hearing officers or administrative law judges;
- The evaluation of the entire state tax code for recommendations to create a stable revenue source without a disproportionate burden on particular industries, individuals, or employers and in conjunction with a statewide economic development plan;
- The creation of public-private partnerships to develop water and other critical infrastructure that will provide public benefits, such as economical infrastructure project delivery and water conservation; and,
- Statewide uniformity of employment laws, such as paid or unpaid leave mandates, wage or fringe benefit mandates, and scheduling mandates; in order to provide a stable environment for employers and promote economic development.
ACI OPPOSES:
- Mandatory unitary combined reporting.
