There is created in the office of the governor an executive planning group, to be called the governor’s office of policy and planning. Staff members of the governor’s office of policy and planning shall be appointed by the governor, and shall be called governor’s policy assistants. The governor’s office of policy and planning shall provide overall plans for New Mexico state government in key areas such as, but not necessarily limited to, economic development, education, human and natural resources and energy. These plans will define and set forth ways to implement policies in order to achieve a cohesive direction in key areas. To design the overall plans the governor’s office of policy and planning shall:

A. focus primarily on issue identification, formulation, analysis and follow through in order to develop major policy statements and implementation strategies, thereby achieving a cohesive and effective direction for the state;

B. define strategic issues where coordination of federal and state government resources is necessary in order to effectively determine and implement a coordinated and cohesive direction for state policy, and in order to ensure responsive and efficient state government.

To implement the overall plans and policies, the governor’s office of policy and planning shall:

A. prepare a governor’s policy manual to define the focus of the overall state plans and policies;

B. coordinate executive implementation of the plans and policies;

C. prepare legislative proposals which would implement plans and policies; D. promote efficient inter-department coordination in the implementation and administration of the plans and policies;

E. coordinate cabinet meetings to achieve a cohesive direction in the implementation of the plans and policies;

F. serve as staff to the governor’s alternate to the southwest border regional association;

G. serve as staff to the governor’s alternate to the council of four corners governors; H. consider emergency preparedness needs in conjunction with the office of military affairs and provide, as necessary, staff to coordinate these needs;

I. conduct ongoing planning studies to identify and analyze emerging planning and policy issues requiring immediate attention, and conduct special planning and policy studies as requested by the governor.