45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR STAFF SUPPORT FOR NURSING FACILITIES THROUGHOUT NEW MEXICO.

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

Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--Four million dollars ($4,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal year 2003 for the purpose of providing funds for the recruitment, retention, salary enhancement and fringe benefits of direct care providers in licensed nursing homes throughout New Mexico. The department shall ensure that all money appropriated shall be used only for the purposes authorized and neither the department nor the licensed nursing homes shall retain any of the appropriation for administrative purposes. If any of the appropriation is not used for the benefit of the direct care providers, the department or licensed nursing home shall immediately refund the full amount to the general fund. As used in this section, "direct care providers" means registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants and other personnel providing direct resident care or services for residents and includes a person in training for any of these positions. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2003 shall revert to the general fund.