HOUSE BILL 422

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

INTRODUCED BY

Raymond M. Ruiz

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; PROVIDING MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE FOR INDIGENT PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPANTS IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS; ENACTING A SECTION OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:     Section 1. A new section of the Public Assistance Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE PROGRAM.--

          A. The department shall establish a program to provide motor vehicle insurance that meets the requirements of the Mandatory Financial Responsibility Act, specifically the requirements of Section 66-5-208 NMSA 1978.

          B. In order to be eligible to participate in the motor vehicle insurance program, a person shall be eligible to receive temporary assistance for needy families or medicaid, be eligible to participate in the welfare-to-work or federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 programs or have children who qualify for free lunch programs or who qualify for any other public assistance program based on income, whether the person is a participant in one of those programs or not."

     Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Five million dollars ($5,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal year 2005 to implement a program to provide motor vehicle insurance to indigent people who qualify to participate in public assistance programs. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 shall revert to the general fund.

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