46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

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.--Three million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($3,250,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal year 2004 for the purpose of providing funds for the recruitment, retention and salary enhancement 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 and certified nursing assistants assigned to direct resident care and excluding non-direct care hours worked. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.