2004 House Bill text for HB0271

HOUSE BILL 271

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Edward C. Sandoval

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; ESTABLISHING AN INTERAGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PURCHASING COLLABORATIVE AND A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PLANNING COUNCIL; PRESCRIBING POWERS, DUTIES AND MEMBERSHIP; RECONCILING MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS TO THE SAME SECTION OF LAW IN LAWS 2003.

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

Section 1. A new section of the Public Health Act is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PLANNING COUNCIL CREATED--POWERS AND DUTIES--MEMBERSHIP.--There is created the "behavioral health planning council".

A. The council shall consist of the following members, all of whom shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor:

(1) consumers of behavioral health services and consumers of substance abuse services, as follows:

(a) adults with serious mental illness;

(b) seniors;

(c) family members of adults with serious mental illness and of children with serious emotional or neurobiological disorders;

(d) persons with co-occurring disorders; and

(e) Native American representatives from a pueblo, an Apache tribe, the Navajo Nation and an urban Native American population;

(2) providers;

(3) state agency representation from agencies responsible for:

(a) adult mental health and substance abuse;

(b) children's mental health and substance abuse;

(d) vocational rehabilitation;

(e) criminal justice;

(f) juvenile justice;

(g) housing;

(h) medicaid and social services;

(i) health policy planning;

(j) developmental disabilities planning; and

(k) disabilities issues and advocacy;

(4) such other members as the governor may appoint to ensure appropriate cultural and geographic representation; and

(5) advocates.

B. Providers and state agency representatives together may not constitute more than forty-nine percent of the council membership.

C. The council shall:

(1) advocate for adults, children and adolescents with serious mental illness or severe emotional, neurological and behavioral disorders, as well as those with mental illness or emotional problems, including substance abuse and co-occurring disorders;

(2) report annually to the governor and the legislature on the adequacy and allocation of mental health services throughout the state;

(3) encourage and support the development of a comprehensive, integrated, community-based behavioral health system of care, including mental health and substance abuse services, and services for persons with co-occurring disorders;

(4) advise state agencies responsible for behavioral health services for children and adults, as those agencies are charged in Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978;

(5) meet regularly and at the call of the chair, who shall be appointed by the governor;

(6) establish subcommittees, to meet at least quarterly, as follows:

(a) a medicaid subcommittee, chaired by the secretary of human services or a designee, which may also serve as a subcommittee of the medicaid advisory committee;

(b) a child and adolescent subcommittee, chaired by the secretary of children, youth and families or a designee;

(d) a substance abuse subcommittee, chaired by the secretary of health or a designee, which shall include DWI issues and shall include representation from local DWI councils; and

(e) other subcommittees as may be established by the chair of the council to address specific issues. All subcommittees may include nonvoting members appointed by the chair for purposes of providing expertise necessary to the charge of the respective subcommittee;

(7) review and make recommendations for the comprehensive mental health state block grant and the substance abuse block grant applications, the state plan for medicaid services and any other plan or application for federal or foundation funding for behavioral health services; and

(8) replace the governor's mental health planning council and act in accordance with Public Law 102-321 of the federal Public Health Service Act."

Section 2. Section 9-2A-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1992, Chapter 57, Section 8, as amended) is amended to read:

"9-2A-8. DEPARTMENT--ADDITIONAL DUTIES.--In addition to other duties provided by law or assigned to the department by the governor, the department shall:

A. develop priorities for department services and resources based on state policy and national best-practice standards and local considerations and priorities;

B. strengthen collaboration and coordination in state and local services for children, youth and families by integrating critical functions as appropriate, including service delivery and contracting for services across divisions and related agencies;

C. develop and maintain a statewide database, including client tracking of services for children, youth and families;

D. develop standards of service within the department that focus on prevention, monitoring and outcomes;

E. analyze policies of other departments that affect children, youth and families to encourage common contracting procedures, common service definitions and a uniform system of access;

F. enact regulations to control disposition and placement of children under the Children's Code, including regulations to limit or prohibit the out-of-state placement of children, including those who have developmental disabilities or emotional, neurobiological or behavioral disorders, when in-state alternatives are available;

G. develop reimbursement criteria for licensed child care centers and licensed home providers establishing that accreditation by a department-approved national accrediting body is sufficient qualification for the child care center or home provider to receive the highest reimbursement rate paid by the department;

H. assume and implement [the lead] responsibility [among all departments] for children's mental health and substance abuse [treatment authority] services in the state, coordinating with the human services department and the department of health;

I. assume and implement the lead responsibility among all departments for domestic violence services;

J. implement prevention and early intervention as a departmental focus; [and]

K. conduct biennial assessments of service gaps and needs and establish outcome measurements to address those service gaps and needs, including recommendations from the governor's children's cabinet and the children, youth and families advisory committee; and

L. ensure that behavioral health services provided, including mental health and substance abuse services for children, adolescents and their families, shall be in compliance with requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 3. Section 9-3-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, Chapter 257, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

"9-3-5. SECRETARY--DUTIES AND GENERAL POWERS.--

A. The secretary of corrections is responsible to the governor for the operation of the corrections department. It is his duty to manage all operations of the department and to administer and enforce the laws with which he or the department is charged.

B. To perform his duties, the secretary has every power expressly enumerated in the laws, whether granted to the secretary of the department or any division of the department, except where authority conferred upon any division [therein] is explicitly exempted from the secretary's authority by statute. In accordance with these provisions, the secretary shall:

(1) except as otherwise provided in the Corrections Department Act, exercise general supervisory and appointing authority over all department employees, subject to any applicable personnel laws and regulations;

(2) delegate authority to subordinates as he deems necessary and appropriate, clearly delineating such delegated authority and the limitations thereto;

(3) organize the department into those organizational units he deems will enable it to function most efficiently, subject to any provisions of law requiring or establishing specific organizational units;

(4) within the limitations of available appropriations and applicable laws, employ and fix the compensation of those persons necessary to discharge his duties;

(5) take administrative action by issuing orders and instructions, not inconsistent with the law, to assure implementation of and compliance with the provisions of law [with the] for whose administration or execution [of which] he is responsible and to enforce those orders and instructions by appropriate administrative action or actions in the courts;

(6) conduct research and studies that will improve the operations of the department and the provision of services to the citizens of the state;

(7) provide courses of instruction and practical training for employees of the department and other persons involved in the administration of programs with the objective of improving the operations and efficiency of administration;

(8) prepare an annual budget of the department;

(9) provide cooperation, at the request of heads of administratively attached agencies, in order to:

(a) minimize or eliminate duplication of services and jurisdictional conflicts;

(b) coordinate activities and resolve problems of mutual concern; and

(c) resolve by agreement the manner and extent to which the department shall provide budgeting, record-keeping and related clerical assistance to administratively attached agencies;

(10) appoint, with the governor's consent, a "director" for each division [a "director"]. These appointed positions are exempt from the provisions of the Personnel Act. Persons appointed to these positions shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary;

(11) give bond as provided in the Surety Bond Act. The department shall pay the costs of [such] the bonds; and

(12) require performance bonds of such department employees and officers as he deems necessary, as provided in the Surety Bond Act. The department shall pay the costs of [such] the bonds.

C. The secretary may apply for and receive, with the governor's approval, in the name of the department any public or private funds, including [but not limited to] United States government funds, available to the department to carry out its programs, duties or services.

D. Where functions of departments overlap or a function assigned to one department could better be performed by another department, a secretary may recommend appropriate legislation to the next session of the legislature for its approval.

E. The secretary may make and adopt such reasonable and procedural rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the department and its divisions. No rule or regulation promulgated by the director of any division in carrying out the functions and duties of the division shall be effective until approved by the secretary. Unless otherwise provided by statute, no regulation affecting any person or agency outside the department shall be adopted, amended or repealed without a public hearing on the proposed action before the secretary or a hearing officer designated by him. The public hearing shall be held in Santa Fe unless otherwise permitted by statute. Notice of the subject matter of the regulation, the action proposed to be taken, the time and place of the hearing, the manner in which interested persons may present their views and the method by which copies of the proposed regulation, proposed amendment or repeal of an existing regulation may be obtained shall be published once at least thirty days prior to the hearing date in a newspaper of general circulation and mailed at least thirty days prior to the hearing date to all persons who have made a written request for advance notice of hearing. All rules and regulations shall be filed in accordance with the State Rules Act.

F. Behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided by the department for persons under the department's supervision shall be in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 4. Section 9-7-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, Chapter 253, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

"9-7-3. PURPOSE.--The purpose of the Department of Health Act is to establish a single, unified department to administer the laws and exercise the functions relating to health formerly administered and exercised by various organizational units of state government, including the state health agency, the scientific laboratory system and an appropriate allocation of administrative support services of the health and social services department and the hospital and institutions department. All public health [behavioral health] and scientific laboratory functions formerly performed by the health and environment department shall be performed by the department [of health]. Behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided by or through the department shall be subject to the direction of the secretary and the provisions of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 5. Section 9-7-6.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1999, Chapter 270, Section 1) is amended to read:

"9-7-6.1. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES--POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.--Subject to appropriation, the department [of health] shall:

A. contract for behavioral health treatment and support services, including mental health, alcoholism and other substance abuse services;

B. establish standards for the delivery of behavioral health services, including quality management and improvement, performance measures, accessibility and availability of services, utilization management, credentialing and recredentialing, rights and responsibilities of providers, preventive behavioral health services, clinical treatment and evaluation and the documentation and confidentiality of client records;

C. ensure that all behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided, contracted for or approved are in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978;

D. assume responsibility for and implement adult mental health and substance abuse services in the state coordinating with the human services department and the children, youth and families department;

[C.] E. establish criteria for determining individual eligibility for behavioral health services; and

[D.] F. maintain a management information system in accordance with standards for reporting clinical and fiscal information."

Section 6. Section 9-7-6.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1999, Chapter 270, Section 2) is amended to read:

"9-7-6.2. CONTRACT ELIGIBILITY.--Subject to the provisions of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978, the department [of health] may enter into contracts for behavioral health services with municipalities, counties, state institutions of higher education, tribal or pueblo governments or organizations, regional provider service networks or private nonprofit or for-profit corporations authorized to do business in New Mexico."

Section 7. A new section of the Department of Health Act, Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:

"9-7-6.4. [NEW MATERIAL] INTERAGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

PURCHASING COLLABORATIVE.--

A. There is created the "interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative", consisting of the secretaries of human services, health, corrections, children, youth and families, finance and administration, labor, public education and transportation; the directors of the state agency on aging, the administrative office of the courts, the New Mexico office of Indian affairs, the New Mexico mortgage finance authority, the governor's committee on concerns of the handicapped, the developmental disabilities planning council, the vocational rehabilitation division of the public education department and the New Mexico health policy commission; and the governor's health policy coordinator, or their designees. The collaborative shall be chaired by the secretary of human services with the respective secretaries of health and children, youth and families alternating annually as co-chairs.

B. The collaborative shall meet regularly and at the call of either co-chair and shall:

(1) identify behavioral health needs statewide, with an emphasis on that hiatus between needs and services set forth in the department of health's gap analysis and in on-going needs assessments, and develop a master plan for statewide delivery of services;

(2) inventory all expenditures for behavioral health, including mental health and substance abuse;

(3) plan, design and direct a statewide behavioral health system, ensuring both availability of services and efficient use of all behavioral health funding, taking into consideration funding appropriated to specific affected departments; and

(4) contract for operation of one or more behavioral health entities to ensure availability of services throughout the state.

C. The plan for delivery of behavioral health services shall include specific service plans to address the needs of infants, children, adolescents, adults and seniors as well as to address workforce development and retention and quality improvement issues. The plan shall be revised every two years and shall be adopted by the department of health as part of the statewide health plan.

D. The plan shall take the following principles into consideration, to the extent practicable and within available resources:

(1) services should be individually centered and family focused based on principles of individual capacity for recovery and resiliency;

(2) services should be delivered in a culturally responsive manner in a home or community-based setting, where possible;

(3) services should be delivered in the least restrictive and most appropriate manner;

(4) individualized service planning and case management should take into consideration individual and family circumstances, abilities and strengths and be accomplished in consultation with appropriate family, caregivers and other persons critical to the individual's life and well-being;

(5) services should be coordinated, accessible, accountable and of high quality;

(6) services should be directed by the individual or family served to the extent possible;

(7) services may be consumer or family provided, as defined by the collaborative; and

(8) services should include behavioral health promotion, prevention, early intervention, treatment and community support.

E. The collaborative shall seek and consider suggestions of Native American representatives from Indian nations, tribes, pueblos and the urban Indian population, located wholly or partially within New Mexico, in the development of the plan for delivery of behavioral health services."

Section 8. Section 9-8-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977, Chapter 252, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:

"9-8-6. SECRETARY--DUTIES AND GENERAL POWERS.--

A. The secretary is responsible to the governor for the operation of the department. It is his duty to manage all operations of the department and to administer and enforce the laws with which he or the department is charged.

B. To perform his duties, the secretary has every power expressly enumerated in the laws, whether granted to the secretary or the department or any division of the department, except where authority conferred upon any division is explicitly exempted from the secretary's authority by statute. In accordance with these provisions, the secretary shall:

(1) except as otherwise provided in the Human Services Department Act, exercise general supervisory and appointing authority over all department employees, subject to any applicable personnel laws and regulations;

(2) delegate authority to subordinates as he deems necessary and appropriate, clearly delineating such delegated authority and the limitations thereto;

(4) within the limitations of available appropriations and applicable laws, employ and fix the compensation of those persons necessary to discharge his duties;

(5) take administrative action by issuing orders and instructions, not inconsistent with the law, to assure implementation of and compliance with the provisions of law for whose administration or execution he is responsible and to enforce those orders and instructions by appropriate administrative action in the courts;

(6) conduct research and studies that will improve the operations of the department and the provision of services to the citizens of the state;

(8) prepare an annual budget of the department;

(9) provide cooperation, at the request of heads of administratively attached agencies, in order to:

(a) minimize or eliminate duplication of services and jurisdictional conflicts;

(b) coordinate activities and resolve problems of mutual concern; and

(c) resolve by agreement the manner and extent to which the department shall provide budgeting, record-keeping and related clerical assistance to administratively attached agencies;

(10) appoint, with the governor's consent, a "director" for each division. These appointed positions are exempt from the provisions of the Personnel Act. Persons appointed to these positions shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary, except as provided in Section 9-8-9 NMSA 1978;

(11) give bond in the penal sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) and require directors to each give bond in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) conditioned upon the faithful performance of duties as provided in the Surety Bond Act. The department shall pay the costs of these bonds; and

(12) require performance bonds of such department employees and officers as he deems necessary as provided in the Surety Bond Act. The department shall pay the costs of these bonds.

C. The secretary may apply for and receive, with the governor's approval, in the name of the department, any public or private funds, including [but not limited to] United States government funds, available to the department to carry out its programs, duties or services.

D. Where functions of departments overlap or a function assigned to one department could better be performed by another department, the secretary may recommend appropriate legislation to the next session of the legislature for its approval.

E. The secretary may make and adopt such reasonable and procedural rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the department and its divisions. No rule or regulation promulgated by the director of any division in carrying out the functions and duties of the division shall be effective until approved by the secretary unless otherwise provided by statute. Unless otherwise provided by statute, no regulation affecting any person or agency outside the department shall be adopted, amended or repealed without a public hearing on the proposed action before the secretary or a hearing officer designated by him. The public hearing shall be held in Santa Fe unless otherwise permitted by statute. Notice of the subject matter of the regulation, the action proposed to be taken, the time and place of the hearing, the manner in which interested persons may present their views and the method by which copies of the proposed regulation, proposed amendment or repeal of an existing regulation may be obtained shall be published once at least thirty days prior to the hearing date in a newspaper of general circulation and mailed at least thirty days prior to the hearing date to all persons who have made a written request for advance notice of hearing.

F. In the event the secretary anticipates that adoption, amendment or repeal of a rule or regulation will be required by a cancellation, reduction or suspension of federal funds or order by a court of competent jurisdiction:

(1) if the secretary is notified by appropriate federal authorities at least sixty days prior to the effective date of such cancellation, reduction or termination of federal funds, the department is required to promulgate regulations through the public hearing process to be effective on the date mandated by the appropriate federal authority; or

(2) if the secretary is notified by appropriate federal authorities or court less than sixty days prior to the effective date of such cancellation, reduction or suspension of federal funds or court order, the department is authorized without a public hearing to promulgate interim rules or regulations effective for a period not to exceed ninety days. [Such] Interim regulations shall not be promulgated without first providing a written notice twenty days in advance to providers of medical or behavioral health services and beneficiaries of department programs. At the time of the promulgation of the interim rules or regulations, the department shall give notice of the public hearing on the final rules or regulations in accordance with Subsection E of this section.

G. If the secretary certifies to the secretary of finance and administration and gives contemporaneous notice of such certification through the human services register that the department has insufficient state funds to operate any of the programs it administers and that reductions in services or benefit levels are necessary, the secretary may engage in interim rulemaking. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the State Rules Act, interim rulemaking shall be conducted pursuant to Subsection E of this section, except:

(1) the period of notice of public hearing shall be fifteen days;

(2) the department shall also send individual notices of the interim rulemaking and of the public hearing to affected providers and beneficiaries;

(3) rules and regulations promulgated [under] pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be in effect not less than five days after the public hearing;

(4) rules and regulations promulgated [under] pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall not be in effect for more than ninety days; and

(5) if final rules and regulations are necessary to replace the interim rules and regulations, the department shall give notice of intent to promulgate final rules and regulations at the time of notice herein. The final rules and regulations shall be promulgated not more than forty-five days after the public hearing and filed in accordance with the State Rules Act.

H. At the time of the promulgation of the interim rules or regulations, the department shall give notice of the public hearing on the final rules or regulations in accordance with Subsection E of this section.

I. The secretary shall ensure that any behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided, contracted for or approved are in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978.

[H.] J. All rules and regulations shall be filed in accordance with the State Rules Act."

Section 9. Section 22-2-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 16, Section 9, as amended) is amended to read:

"22-2-6. DEPARTMENT--DUTIES.--[Subject to the policies of the state board and the supervision and direction of the state superintendent] The department shall have the following duties:

A. supervise all schools and school officials coming under the jurisdiction of the [state board] department, including taking over the control and management of a public school or school district that has failed to meet requirements of law or [state board] department rules or standards;

B. issue a state identification number for each public school student for use in the accountability data system;

C. advise boards of regents of state educational institutions on matters concerning the Public School Code;

D. prescribe, print and distribute forms to carry out the duties of the [state board] department pursuant to the Public School Code;

E. annually, prior to December 1, prepare and publish a report on public and private education in the state and distribute the report to the governor and the legislature;

F. keep accurate records of all money received by the [state superintendent or the] department;

G. publish and distribute copies of the Public School Code and rules promulgated by the [state board] department to local school boards in the state;

H. confer with local school boards and licensed school employees on matters concerning education in the state;

I. prepare and distribute patriotic material to schools in the state; [and]

J. evaluate all educational programs in state institutions under the authority of the secretary of health and the secretary of children, youth and families; and

K. ensure that all behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided, contracted for or approved by the department are in compliance with requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 10. Section 22-14-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 16, Section 197, as amended by Laws 1993, Chapter 226, Section 31 and also by Laws 1993, Chapter 229, Section 2) is amended to read:

"22-14-8. VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION DIVISION--POWERS--DUTIES.--[Subject to the policies of the state board] The vocational rehabilitation division of the public education department shall:

A. provide vocational rehabilitation to qualified individuals;

B. [act as the representative of the state board in administering] administer any state plan or federal aid funds relating to vocational rehabilitation;

C. cooperate and make agreements with public or private agencies to establish or to maintain a vocational rehabilitation program;

D. enter into reciprocal agreements with other states to provide vocational rehabilitation;

E. accept gifts or grants to be used for vocational rehabilitation;

F. [adopt] enforce regulations for the administration of laws relating to vocational rehabilitation; [and]

G. conduct research and compile statistics relating to vocational rehabilitation; and

H. ensure that behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided, contracted for or approved are in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 11. Section 28-4-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979, Chapter 203, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

"28-4-6. AGENCY POWERS.--

A. The state agency on aging:

(1) may receive on behalf of the state any gifts, donations or bequests from any source to be used in carrying out its duties; and

(2) is designated as the state agency for handling all programs of the federal government related to the aged, except those designated by law as the responsibility of another state agency, and may enter into agreements and contracts with agencies of the federal government for this purpose.

B. The state agency on aging may adopt and promulgate [such] reasonable rules [and regulations] as are deemed necessary to carry out its duties. Unless otherwise provided by law, no rule [or regulation] affecting any person or agency outside the state agency on aging shall be adopted, amended or repealed without a public hearing on the proposed action before the director of the state agency on aging or a hearing officer designated by him. The public hearing shall be held in Santa Fe unless otherwise permitted by statute. Notice of the subject matter of the rule [or regulation], the action proposed to be taken, the time and place of the hearing, the manner in which interested persons may present their views and the method by which copies of the proposed rule [or regulation] or proposed amendment or repeal of an existing rule [or regulation] may be obtained shall be published once at least thirty days prior to the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation and mailed at least thirty days prior to the hearing date to all persons who have made a written request for advance notice of hearing. The director of the state agency on aging shall also provide [such] notice to the director of each senior citizen center no later than forty days prior to the public hearing. All rules [and regulations] shall be filed in accordance with the State Rules Act.

C. To ensure that the health and safety needs of the state's aged population are being met, the state agency on aging may conduct unannounced quality care evaluations of health and long-term care facilities that provide services to the aged, including the use of undercover patients or employees. Any employee or contractor of the state agency on aging who participates in such an evaluation shall be immune from liability in any civil action related to the evaluation, provided it is conducted in good faith. The purpose of this subsection is to confirm and clarify the authority of the state agency on aging to conduct quality care evaluations to protect the interests of the state's aged population.

D. The agency shall ensure that any behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided, contracted for or approved are in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 12. Section 28-12-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1955, Chapter 162, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

"28-12-7. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION.--

A. The commission [shall be] is the co-ordinating agency for intergovernmental programs concerning tribal governments and the state [of New Mexico].

B. The commission shall investigate, study, consider and act upon the entire subject of Indian conditions and relations within the state [of New Mexico], including but not restricted to problems of health, economy, education, legislation and local, state and federal government. In performing its functions, the commission shall provide an opportunity for the presentation and exchange of ideas in respect to Indian affairs of the state by all interested persons.

C. The commission shall assist in setting the policy [for] and shall act as the clearinghouse for all state programs affecting the Indian people of New Mexico.

D. The commission, in order to ensure the purposes of this section, may hold hearings, conduct meetings, make investigations and confer with officials of local, state and federal agencies in order to secure cooperation between the local, state, federal and Indian tribal governments in the promotion of the welfare of the Indian peoples.

E. The commission shall have the authority to accept and receive gifts, funds, grants, bequests and devises for use in furthering the purposes of the commission.

F. The commission may contract with public or private bodies to provide services and facilities for promoting the welfare of the Indian peoples.

G. The commission shall appoint the executive director or his designee to serve on the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative and shall ensure that all behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided, contracted for or approved by the commission are in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 13. Section 34-9-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1959, Chapter 162, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

"34-9-3. DIRECTOR--DUTIES.--The director of the administrative office of the courts shall, under the supervision and direction of the supreme court:

A. supervise all matters relating to administration of the courts;

B. examine fiscal matters and the state of the dockets of the courts, secure information as to the courts' need of assistance and prepare and transmit to the supreme court statistical data and reports as to the business of the courts;

C. submit to the supreme court and to the legislature by January 30 of each year a report of the activities of the administrative office of the courts and of the state of business of the courts, including the statistical data submitted to the supreme court pursuant to Subsection B of this section, and the director's recommendations. This report is a public document;

D. deal with the problems of finance of those courts supported by legislative appropriation and be concerned with adequate but economical financing of each of these courts and the equitable distribution of available funds among them. For this purpose, the director shall receive, adjust and approve proposed budgets submitted by these courts [for the fifty-eighth and subsequent fiscal years] prior to submission of the budgets to the state budget division of the department of finance and administration for inclusion in the executive budget. The district courts of all counties within a judicial district shall be included within a single budget. Budget proposals shall be submitted by the courts at the time and in the form prescribed by the director; [and]

E. perform other duties in aid of the administration of justice and the administration and dispatch of the business of the courts as directed by the supreme court. The courts shall comply with all requests of the director for information; and

F. ensure that any behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided, contracted for or approved by the office are in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 14. A new section of the Mortgage Finance Authority Act is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] DUTIES--BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.--The authority shall:

A. appoint a representative to both the behavioral health planning council and the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative; and

B. ensure that any behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, and any housing provided for consumers of those services, that are provided, contracted for or approved by the authority are in compliance with requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 15. Section 67-3-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 226, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:

"67-3-8. POWERS AND DUTIES OF SECRETARY.--The secretary shall:

A. serve as the chief staff officer of the state transportation commission and shall be responsible to the commission for the operations and management of the work of the department;

B. organize the department in such a manner as to properly conduct the work of the department;

C. establish six highway construction districts with the approval of the state transportation commission. The secretary shall designate a district engineer in each construction district to supervise and manage the operations of the district. The district engineer shall be a professional engineer. The authority and responsibility for the actual construction for all construction projects within the district shall be delegated to the district engineer. District engineers shall attend state transportation commission meetings;

D. in accordance with the provisions of the Personnel Act, employ such assistants and employees as may be required for the efficient operation of the department, each of whom shall possess all the qualifications that may be prescribed for such position; provided that, notwithstanding the provisions of the Personnel Act, no more than five division directors shall be covered by and subject to the Personnel Act; [and]

E. observe, administer and enforce the provisions of law now existing or hereafter enacted that pertain to the state highways, the state transportation commission or the department; and

F. ensure that any behavioral health services, including mental health and substance abuse services, provided, contracted for or approved are in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."

Section 16. REPEAL.--Section 24-1-26 NMSA 1978 (being

Laws 2003, Chapter 59, Section 1) is repealed.

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