Public Policy Development

The Institute of Public Law (IPL) believes that public universities represent a major resource to support the development of sound public policy by their state and local governments. Public officials and community leaders can make high quality decisions through constructive and transparent discussions based on reliable information.

Through our staff of experienced attorneys and policy experts, and working with faculty and staff at the School of Law, IPL conducts research into the legal implications of public policy proposals. We also work with other UNM entities to design and lead constructive dialogues between stakeholders and government officials, and to conduct research to ensure that proposed solutions are viable. In this effort, IPL draws upon a consortium of University of New Mexico departments, institutes and programs that we have helped to organize.

CONSORTIUM FOR COLLABORATIVE PUBLIC POLICY:
SYMPOSIUM ON COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2008
UNM STUDENT UNION BUILDING, BALLROOM
Agenda | Speaker Biographies | Cosponsors

Public Policy Development Projects

Biomedical Ethics and Research Activities
IPL staff have served on university biomedical ethics committees that promote ethical decision-making in health care, and hospital institutional review boards that ensure the protection of participants in health care research.
Emergency Public Health Law
We advised and assisted several state agencies in developing legislation that was enacted to respond to public health emergencies in New Mexico.
Environmental Public Health Tracking
IPL evaluated the extent to which state government has authority to collect health and environmental surveillance data for creation of an environmental public health tracking system. The system would provide an important link between hazardous environmental exposures and human health effects.
Health Coverage for New Mexicans Commission
IPL supported a governor's commission appointed to report on how to extend health coverage to all New Mexicans by analyzing the legal implications of several proposed models.
Rules
For state regulatory agencies, IPL produced complete revisions and recompilations of Motor Carrier rules, Public Utility rules, Title Insurance rules, and Insurance rules. We drafted original Ignition Interlock and DWI, Driver education, and Driving Safety School rules for the State Traffic Safety Bureau.
State of New Mexico Transportation Planning Conference
IPL participated in several of the state's major transportation planning conferences, including:

• the 2002 DWI Summit
• Governor Richardson's Multi-Agency DWI Strategic Plan
• New Mexico's Comprehensive Traffic Safety Plan 2006.

Study of the Effect of Vehicle Seizure on Repeat Offenders
IPL worked with UNM's Division of Government Research and the City of Albuquerque on a project to study the effects of vehicle seizure on DWI repeat offenders.
Visit the Study of the Effect of Vehicle Seizure on Repeat Offenders Website