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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Nava

 

DATE TYPED:

2/3/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Direct Care Staff Recognition

 

SB

SM 16

 

 

ANALYST:

Dunbar

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

NFI

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Duplicates HM 4

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

 

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Memorial 16 expresses recognition and appreciation to the Direct Care staff that provides quality community-based specialized services, care and support to individuals in the Developmental Disability Community.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The Memorial acknowledges that:

 

·                    There are more than 27,000 New Mexicans who have mental retardation or other developmental disabilities.

·                    Persons with developmental disabilities have substantial functional limitations and require specialized, lifelong individualized services and support.

·                    For more than two decades, individuals with developmental disabilities and mental retardation, and their families, have expressed a growing desire to receive community-based and community-integrated services as an alternative to institutional care.

·                    The Olmstead decision affirmed the right of these individuals to receive community-based care.

·                    The demand for community-based care is growing and that demand will continue to grow as family caregivers age, individuals with mental retardation or developmental disabilities live longer, waiting lists grow and services expand.

·                    The majority of services for individuals with mental retardation or developmental disabilities are provided by family members and by direct support professionals, who provide a wide range of supportive services.

·                    High rates of employee vacancies and turnover rates threaten the ability of providers to achieve their core mission, which is the provision of safe and quality support to individuals with mental retardation or developmental disabilities.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The bill does not contain an appropriation.

 

DUPLICATION

 

Duplicates HM 4.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

HPC indicates that the combination of the increased demand for community-based services and limited State funding has resulted in approximately a six-year waiting list for those DD Waiver-eligible individuals to receive services. 

 

BDyr