HOUSE BILL 77

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson

 

 

 

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; REQUIRING THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP ANNUAL FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STATE OUTREACH PLANS.

 

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] FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OUTREACH PLANS.--

          A. The authority shall develop annual federal supplemental nutrition assistance program state outreach plans to promote access to the benefits of the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program. Each year, the authority shall submit the annual state outreach plan to the food and nutrition service of the United States department of agriculture on or before the deadline specified by the food and nutrition service. Upon approval of an annual state outreach plan, the authority shall maximize federal funding for the plan by submitting a request to the food and nutrition service for all available matching funding that the federal government offers for state outreach plans. The authority may seek matching federal funds, gifts, grants and donations to develop and implement an annual state outreach plan.

          B. The authority may partner with one or more counties, municipalities, tribal governments or nonprofit organizations for purposes of developing and implementing an annual state outreach plan. The authority may contractually require an entity with which the authority partners for services related to developing or implementing an annual state outreach plan to seek gifts, grants or donations to fund the development or implementation of the annual state outreach program.

          C. The authority shall be exempt from implementing an annual state outreach plan if the authority does not receive enough state, local, private or federal funds to cover the implementation and administration costs of the annual state outreach plan."

- 2 -