SENATE BILL 356

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Dede Feldman

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; CREATING THE TRAUMA SYSTEM FUND AUTHORITY; CREATING THE TRAUMA SYSTEM FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Trauma System Fund Authority Act".

     Section 2. PURPOSE OF ACT.--The purpose of the Trauma System Fund Authority Act is to provide funding to sustain existing trauma centers, support the development of new trauma centers and develop a statewide trauma system.

     Section 3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Trauma System Fund Authority Act:

          A. "authority" means the trauma system fund authority;

          B. "department" means the department of health;

          C. "fund" means the trauma system fund;

          D. "secretary" means the secretary of health; and

          E. "statewide trauma system" means a coordinated continuum of care that includes injury prevention, emergency medical, acute care hospital and rehabilitative services and that is subject to accountability and system improvement.

     Section 4. TRAUMA SYSTEM FUND AUTHORITY CREATED--MEMBERSHIP.--

          A. The "trauma system fund authority" is created. The authority is administratively attached to the department.           B. The authority shall consist of at least nine members, all of whom shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor. The membership of the authority shall include the following:

                (1) the secretary or the secretary's designee;

                (2) representation from the medical specialty of trauma physicians;

                (3) at least one member of a statewide organization representing physicians in New Mexico;

                (4) at least one member representing emergency and trauma nursing practice;

                (5) at least one member of a statewide organization representing hospitals and health systems in New Mexico;

                (6) at least one member of a statewide organization representing injury prevention;

                (7) the chair of the statewide emergency medical services advisory committee;

                (8) the chair of the trauma advisory committee; and

                (9) at least one member of a statewide organization representing rehabilitation services.

          C. Authority members shall elect a chair and other officers as the authority deems appropriate.

          D. The authority shall meet regularly at the call of the chair.

     Section 5. DUTIES.--The authority shall:

          A. develop criteria by which distribution of funds to existing trauma centers and potential new centers will occur;

          B. receive applications and determine and monitor the actual distribution of money from the fund that will support the development of a statewide system of trauma care;

          C. oversee the department's administration of the fund and the development of a trauma system; and

          D. report annually to the interim legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee.

     Section 6. TRAUMA SYSTEM FUND CREATED--FUNDING.--

          A. The "trauma system fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of money appropriated and transferred to the fund, money received by the authority from any public or private source and tax revenues distributed to the fund by law. Interest earned on investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund. Disbursements from the fund shall be made upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of health or the secretary's authorized representative. Money in the fund shall not revert at the end of any fiscal year.

          B. Money in the fund is appropriated to the department for the purpose of making distributions approved by the authority and for administering the Trauma System Fund Authority Act; provided that no more than five percent of the fund may be used by the department for administrative costs, including monitoring, trauma system development and providing technical assistance.

     Section 7. RULES.--The department shall promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of the Trauma System Fund Authority Act.

     Section 8. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Six million dollars ($6,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the trauma system fund for expenditure by the department of health in fiscal year 2006 and subsequent fiscal years as follows:

(1) four million dollars ($4,000,000) to

support trauma services at the university of New Mexico hospital in the first year of the fund's existence; and

                (2) two million dollars ($2,000,000) to support other designated trauma centers and potential new centers throughout the state.

          B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert.

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