HOUSE BILL 608

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; PROVIDING FOR HEALTH CARE ACCOUNTABILITY; REQUIRING COLLECTION AND REPORTING OF EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION FROM APPLICANTS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS.

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] EMPLOYER INFORMATION REQUIRED ON APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS.--The department shall require an applicant for public health benefits to identify an applicant's employer or employers. In the event the applicant is unemployed, the applicant shall identify the employer of any other person who may be responsible for providing all or some of the applicant's support. For purposes of this section, "applicant" includes a person on whose behalf benefits are requested."

     Section 2. A new section of the Public Assistance Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REPORT REQUIRED.--The department shall submit a report by November 1, 2006 and annually thereafter to the interim legislative welfare reform oversight committee listing the names of employers who employ twenty-five or more applicants for public health benefits. In determining whether the twenty-five-employee threshold is met, the department shall include all applicants employed by the employer and its subsidiaries at all locations within the state. The report:

          A. shall include the following from each employer or its subsidiary that employs an applicant:

                (1) the location of employment;

                (2) the total number of employees and dependents receiving assistance; and

                (3) the total cost to the state of providing the public assistance;

          B. shall not include the names of the employees; and

          C. shall be made available to the general public."

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