April 6, 2001

SENATE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 97

The Honorable Richard Romero and

Members of the Senate

Executive-Legislative Building

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503

Honorable President and Members of the Senate:

I have this day VETOED and am returning SENATE BILL 736, as amended, enacted by the Forty-Fifth Legislature, First Session, 2001.

This bill would require the Department of Health to promulgate regulations regarding the level of choice afforded to clients of community-based developmental disability, mental retardation, or mental health services. Such legislation is unnecessary, given that the state’s current Medicaid waiver plan, approved by the federal Health Care Financing Administration, insures freedom of choice to consumers of these services.

Sincerely,

Gary E. Johnson

Governor

RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR:

Time: _____________________ By:_____________________________

Secretary of State

Date ______________________

Time:______________________

Date_______________________ By:_____________________________

Chief Clerk of the Senate

Sem64sb662v