SENATE BILL 503

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

INTRODUCED BY

Sue Wilson Beffort

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO STUDY POST-SECONDARY STUDENT HEALTH CARE AND FACTORS INCIDENT TO THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE TO POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

     Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the higher education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to study post-secondary student health care and factors incident to providing that health care, including determining:

                (1) the number of students with and without health care coverage;

                (2) the sources of health care coverage for students who have health care coverage;

                (3) the cost of coverage for all of the students and the cost of coverage for those not currently covered;

                (4) the current role of student health care services and what expanded services can be offered through student health care programs;

                (5) the cost of expanding student health care services; 

                (6) the effect that mandatory assessment of health care coverage fees would have on student enrollment or attendance; and

                (7) possible funding mechanisms for coverage for student health care, such as institutional scholarship funding, funding from the College Affordability Act or funding from other state resources.

          B. The higher education department shall report to the legislative finance committee, the legislative education study committee and any other appropriate interim committees on the study findings by October 30, 2008.

          C. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert to the general fund.

     Section 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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