SENATE BILL 204

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Lidio G. Rainaldi

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; REQUIRING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ACCREDIT PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT TRAINING PROGRAMS AND PROVIDE A CENTRALIZED TRACKING SYSTEM OF TRAINING; PROVIDING TRAINING TO PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.

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

     Section 1. A new section of the Public Assistance Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT TRAINING PROGRAMS--ACCREDITATION--TRAINING REQUIRED FOR MEDICAID-PAID ATTENDANTS--MEDICAID CENTRALIZED TRACKING SYSTEM.--

          A. Training programs that offer personal care attendant training in New Mexico shall be accredited by the department.

          B. The department shall establish by rule the annual training requirement for personal care attendants who are employed by or contract with a medicaid-reimbursed personal care provider or who are otherwise paid through the state medicaid program.

          C. The department shall establish and maintain a centralized tracking system on accredited training programs and training received by personal care attendants."

     Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--REPORT TO LEGISLATURE.--The human services department shall report periodically to the appropriate interim committees on the progress of its personal care attendant training and accreditation programs. A final report shall be provided to the legislature by January 1, 2005. Two copies of the report shall be filed with the legislative council service library.

     Section 3. APPROPRIATIONS.--

          A. One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 to carry out the provisions of Section 1 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 shall revert to the general fund.

           B. One hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) is appropriated from the cash balance of the state's medicaid program budget for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 and subsequent fiscal years to provide training to personal care attendants who serve medicaid clients in rural and medically underserved areas of the state. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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