HOUSE BILL 225

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Nathan P. Cote

AN ACT

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; REQUIRING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN QUICK RESPONSE TEAMS STATEWIDE FOR USE WITH PERSONS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING AN URGENT NEED FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.   

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

     Section 1. A new section of Chapter 9, Article 8 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Quick Response Team Act"."

     Section 2. A new section of Chapter 9, Article 8 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Quick Response Team Act:

          A. "peer support specialist" means a person who has previously experienced urgent behavioral health needs and recovered and who has successfully completed training qualifying that person to work with a person who experiences an urgent need for behavioral health support;

          B. "quick response team" means a team consisting of at least one trained peer support specialist or community health care worker, a licensed behavioral health professional and a paramedic; and

          C. "urgent need for behavioral health support" means an incident in which a person experiences a critical need for emotional, psychological or behavioral health intervention."      

     Section 3. A new section of Chapter 9, Article 8 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING.--

          A. The department shall recruit, train and certify peer support specialists and health care workers for quick response teams statewide and shall match them throughout the state with behavioral health professionals and paramedics on contract with the department. Qualifications and certification of quick response team members may be detailed in rule by the department.

          B. The department shall train members of a quick response team in:

                (1) recognizing mental and behavioral health disorders, which include:

                     (a) schizophrenia;

                     (b) schizoaffective disorder;

                     (c) bipolar disorder with or without psychotic features;

                     (d) brain injury and associated disorders;

                     (e) post-traumatic stress disorder; and                     (f) major depressive disorder with or without psychotic features;

                (2) nonviolent, noncoercive de-escalation techniques;

                (3) cultural competency and race relations;

                (4) techniques that foster reconciliation between persons in crisis and their families and friends;

                (5) using safe, humane and effective approaches to treating or coping with mental and behavioral health disorders; and

                (6) how to access and cooperate with available health, social service and emergency resources in the area.

          C. The department shall offer intervention through a quick response team, where appropriate, for a person experiencing an urgent need for behavioral health support, especially when the presence of an armed law enforcement officer may cause alarm or an escalation of tensions.

          D. The department shall provide by rule for qualifications for certification as a quick response team member and for continuing education requirements.

          E. The department may coordinate quick response teams from a base in a safe house or other community-based center."

     Section 4. A new section of Chapter 9, Article 8 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.--The department shall extend information on quick response team availability and services to "warm lines", suicide hot lines and 911 operators so that responders may elect to use a quick response team rather than a law enforcement officer in an initial contact with a person experiencing an urgent need for behavioral health support."

     Section 5. APPROPRIATION.--One million dollars ($1,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the human services department for expenditure in fiscal year 2009 to recruit and train quick response teams pursuant to the Quick Response Team Act and publicize their existence statewide. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert to the general fund.

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