SENATE TAX, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL 151

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO TAXATION; DISTRIBUTING A PORTION OF THE PREMIUM TAX FROM HEALTH INSURANCE BUSINESS TO THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 7-1-6.62 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 47, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "7-1-6.62. DISTRIBUTION--PREMIUM TAX.--

          A. A distribution pursuant to Section 7-1-6.1 NMSA 1978 shall be made to the law enforcement protection fund in an amount equal to ten percent of the net receipts attributable to the premium tax from life, health, general casualty and title insurance business.

          B. A distribution pursuant to Section 7-1-6.1 NMSA 1978 shall be made to the fire protection fund of the net receipts attributable to the premium tax derived from property and vehicle insurance business.

          C. A distribution pursuant to Section 7-1-6.1 NMSA 1978 shall be made to the emergency medical services fund in an amount equal to ten percent of the net receipts attributable to the premium tax from health insurance business."

     SECTION 2. Section 24-10A-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, Chapter 178, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

     "24-10A-3. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUND CREATED--FUNDING.--

          A. The "emergency medical services fund" is created in the state treasury. Money in the fund shall not revert at the end of any fiscal year. Money appropriated to the fund or accruing to it through distributions, gifts, grants, fees or bequests shall be deposited in the fund. Interest earned on investment of the fund shall be credited to the general fund. Disbursements from the fund shall be made upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary or the secretary's authorized representative.

          B. The bureau shall administer the fund and provide for the distribution of the fund pursuant to the Emergency Medical Services Fund Act and rules adopted pursuant to the provisions of that act.

          C. In any fiscal year, no less than seventy-five percent of the money in the fund shall be used for the local emergency medical services funding program to support the cost of supplies and equipment and operational costs other than salaries and benefits for emergency medical services personnel. This money shall be distributed to municipalities and counties on behalf of eligible local recipients, using a formula established pursuant to rules adopted by the department. The formula shall determine each municipality's and county's share of the fund based on the relative geographic size and population of each county. The formula shall also base the distribution of money for each municipality and county on the relative number of runs of each local recipient eligible to participate in the distribution.

          D. In any fiscal year, no more than:

                (1) twenty-two percent of the fund may be used for emergency medical services system improvement projects, including the purchase of emergency medical services vehicles, local and statewide emergency medical services system support projects, the statewide trauma care system program and the emergency medical dispatch agency support program; and

                (2) three percent of the fund may be used by the bureau for administrative costs, including monitoring and providing technical assistance.

          E. In any fiscal year, money in the fund that is not distributed pursuant to the provisions of Subsection D of this section may be distributed pursuant to the provisions of Subsection C of this section."

     SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--Twenty-two million dollars ($22,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the emergency medical services fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2025 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this act is July 1, 2025.

- 4 -