NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature. The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.
| SPONSOR: | Miera | DATE TYPED: | 01/25/99 | HB | 130 | ||
| SHORT TITLE: | Regulate Methadone Clinics | SB | |||||
| ANALYST: | Burkhart | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY99 | FY2000 | FY99 | FY2000 | ||
| $ 0.0 | |||||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
| Subsequent
Years Impact |
Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||
| FY99 | FY2000 | |||
| $ 0.0 | ||||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Department of Health
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 130 requires the Department of Health to regulate methadone clinics in accordance with the federal requirement that the state approve the establishment of all new methadone clinics.
Significant Issues
The bill requires the Department of Health to perform an assessment of need for the proposed clinics as well as develop clinical and administrative standards as required by federal law.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
House Bill 130 requires the Department of Health to go to a rule making process. Under present policy, this will require the department to go to a public hearing, to take testimony, and to provide a record of the testimony. This process may be repeated at various locations throughout the state depending on the number of regulations to be considered as well as the concerns expressed by various communities. This process as well as the manpower cost of inspecting clinics and record keeping requirement that will be necessary is not included in the bill as an appropriation.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
Provision of the requirements of this bill will require additional resources of the Department of Health. However, the department has other experience and resources such as attorneys and hearing officer resources that should diminish the resources required to implement these requirements.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
Location of methadone clinics in communities around the nation and indeed in New Mexico has been a controversial issue in the past. Of principal concern is the location of these clinics in neighborhoods and close to schools where parents and others are concerned about their children.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Is the Department of Health the best possible location for the administration of these regulations?
Does the Department of Licensing and Regulation have a role in the regulation of these facilities?
MB/njw