44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO HEALTH; CREATING THE MINORITY HEALTH OFFICE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; PRESCRIBING POWERS; CREATING A MINORITY HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL; PRESCRIBING DUTIES.

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

Section 1. MINORITY HEALTH OFFICE CREATED--POWERS.-- The "minority health office" is created in the department of health, to be headed by a director appointed by the secretary of health. The office shall:

A. review and make recommendations to the secretary on the orientation, substance and implementation of all department programs as they affect minority populations;

B. ensure that public information efforts of the department, both promotional and educational, are designed for maximum effectiveness among minority populations;

C. provide technical assistance to all agencies of the department to ensure program implementation with appropriate cultural sensitivity;

D. develop standards and monitor programs for accountability in regard to cultural considerations;

E. gather information on health problems specific to minority populations; and

F. ensure departmental emphasis on prevention programs for minority populations.

Section 2. MINORITY HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL--DUTIES.--

A. There is created a "minority health advisory council" consisting of eleven members, each of whom must be a member of a cultural or ethnic minority group, to be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. Appointees shall be selected from recommendations made to the governor from various statewide and regional cultural groups affected by state health programs, and shall include:

(1) one member from the Navajo nation;

(2) one member from the Apache tribes;

(3) three members from various pueblos; and

(4) six members from other minority groups, selected to give representation to geographic, rural and urban populations, as well as to advocacy and consumer organizations.

B. The council shall elect a chair from among its members and shall meet quarterly to make recommendations to the secretary of health on health needs of minority groups including:

(1) special needs related to chronic and other health conditions more prevalent among minorities than other population groups;

(2) access to health care services and programs for minority groups;

(3) improved cooperation and coordination between the department of health and other health care delivery systems operating in New Mexico; and

(4) issues unique to border and migrant populations.