SENATE BILL 533
49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009
INTRODUCED BY
Linda M. Lopez
AN ACT
RELATING TO HEALTH ADMINISTRATION; REFINING THE DUTIES OF THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION; GRANTING THE COMMISSION THE AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT DONATIONS; CREATING A FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 9-7-11.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1991, Chapter 139, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:
"9-7-11.2. NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION CREATED--COMPOSITION--DUTIES.--
A. There is created the "New Mexico health policy commission", which is administratively attached to the department of finance and administration.
B. The New Mexico health policy commission shall consist of nine members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate to reflect the ethnic, economic, geographic and professional diversity of the state. A majority of the commission members shall have no pecuniary or fiduciary interest in the health services industry while serving or for three years preceding appointment to the commission. Three members shall be appointed for one-year terms, three members shall be appointed for two-year terms and three members shall be appointed for three-year terms, and all subsequent appointments shall be made for three-year terms.
C. The New Mexico health policy commission shall meet at the call of the chair and shall meet not less than quarterly. The chair shall be elected from among the members of the commission annually. Members of the New Mexico health policy commission shall not be paid but shall receive per diem and mileage expenses as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act.
D. The New Mexico health policy commission shall establish task forces as needed to make recommendations to the commission on various health issues. Task force members may include individuals who have expertise or a pecuniary or fiduciary interest in the health services industry. Voting members of a task force may receive mileage expenses when funds are available as determined by the director of the commission if they:
(1) are members who represent consumer interests;
(2) are individuals who were not appointed to represent the views of the organization or agency for which they work; or
(3) represent an organization that has a policy of not reimbursing travel expenses of employees or representatives for travel to meetings.
E. The New Mexico health policy commission may accept on behalf of the state such donations of money, gifts, contributions, property, bequests or memorials from persons, corporations, foundations or agencies or the federal government as it deems suitable and in keeping with the purposes of the commission and may deposit such donations into a revolving fund to further its statutory purposes.
[E.] F. The New Mexico health policy commission shall:
(1) [develop a plan for and monitor the implementation of] collaborate with the department of health on the development of a plan for the state's health policy;
(2) obtain and evaluate information from a broad spectrum of New Mexico's society to develop [and monitor the implementation of] recommendations for the state's health policy;
(3) obtain and evaluate information relating to factors that affect the availability, health care delivery system and accessibility of health services and health care personnel in the public and private sectors;
(4) perform needs assessments on health personnel, health education and recruitment and retention and make recommendations regarding the training, recruitment, placement and retention of health professionals in underserved areas of the state;
(5) introduce and explain topics related to health care reform and provide economic analyses of health care costs to employers and businesses;
(6) collect data on the financing and costs of health care in the state, including financing and costs at inpatient facilities, emergency departments, outpatient clinics and public health clinics and in the private sector;
[(5)] (7) prepare and publish [an annual report] various reports describing the progress in addressing the state's health policy and planning issues; [The report shall include a workplan of goals and objectives for addressing the state's health policy and planning issues in the upcoming year.
(6)] (8) distribute the [annual report] various reports to the governor, all legislators, appropriate state agencies [and interim], legislative committees and interested parties;
[(7)] (9) establish a process to prioritize recommendations on program development, resource allocation and proposed legislation;
[(8)] (10) provide information and analysis on health issues;
[(9)] (11) serve as a catalyst and synthesizer of health policy in the public and private sectors;
[(10)] (12) respond to requests by the executive and legislative branches of government; and
[(11)] (13) ensure that any behavioral health projects, including those relating to mental health and substance abuse, are conducted in compliance with the requirements of Section 9-7-6.4 NMSA 1978."
Section 2. [NEW MATERIAL] NEW MEXICO HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION REVOLVING FUND CREATED.--The "New Mexico health policy commission revolving fund" is created in the state treasury to further the purposes of the New Mexico health policy commission pursuant to Section 9-7-11.2 NMSA 1978. The fund shall consist of donations of money, gifts, contributions, property, bequests or memorials from persons, corporations, foundations or agencies or the federal government. The fund shall be administered by the department of finance and administration and shall be used to finance activities necessary to further the purposes of the New Mexico health policy commission as evaluated by the director of the commission. Money in the fund shall be credited to the fund and shall not revert. Money in the fund shall be expended only on warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the director of the New Mexico health policy commission or the director's authorized representative.
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