SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 45

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Richard C. Martinez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION OF THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OF USING THE LOS LUCEROS HISTORIC PROPERTY FOR A RECOVERY CENTER SERVING AT-RISK YOUTH, INCLUDING YOUNG MOTHERS WITH SMALL CHILDREN.

     WHEREAS, the cultural affairs department is responsible for the oversight of the Los Luceros historic property; and

     WHEREAS, the mission of the cultural affairs department is to preserve, foster and interpret New Mexico's diverse cultural, scientific and artistic heritage and expression for present and future generations, enhancing the quality of life and economic well-being of the state; and

     WHEREAS, in keeping with its mission and the deed restrictions for the property, the cultural affairs department has established four guiding principles for evaluating programs for, and uses of, the Los Luceros historic property; and

     WHEREAS, these principles are:

          A. to preserve and maintain historic structures on the property and to provide opportunities to foster and interpret the history of the property;

          B. to preserve the agricultural use of the property, specifically the apple orchard and pasture within view of the hacienda;

          C. to provide for protection of the environmental elements on the property, including irrigated lands, the bosque and the Rio Grande; and

          D. to manage the property to enhance the quality of life and economic well-being of the community; and

     WHEREAS, maintenance and operation of the property are estimated to cost approximately four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) annually; and

     WHEREAS, among the options considered by the cultural affairs department for the Los Luceros historic property are to enter into public and private partnerships that combine maintenance of the property, its operation as a historic property, educational programs, job training, agriculture and community-based programs; and

     WHEREAS, breaking the cycle of substance abuse in the Espanola valley in Rio Arriba county in particular, and in New Mexico in general, will require an innovative alternative to incarceration, hospitalization or no treatment for certain at-risk groups; and

     WHEREAS, there are not enough programs in New Mexico to address at-risk youth, foster children who age out of foster care and young mothers with small children; and

     WHEREAS, a recovery program for this at-risk population could be based upon the guiding principles established by the cultural affairs department for the maintenance and use of the Los Luceros historic property; and

     WHEREAS, such a program could include maintenance of the property, agricultural production, environmental protection, a foundation that operates a museum and gift shop on the property, food service for visitors and opportunities for physical health and life skills preparation through the participation and engagement of young people; and

     WHEREAS, such a program has the potential to defray the baseline costs associated with maintaining the property, while giving at-risk youth, foster children who age out of foster care and young mothers with children the opportunity to become healthy and productive in a setting that supports recovery;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the cultural affairs department, the behavioral health services division of the human services department, the department of health and the children, youth and families department be requested to establish a working group to consider the feasibility of using the Los Luceros historic property for a recovery center through a public- private partnership, consistent with the cultural affairs department's guiding principles for the property; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group report its findings to the legislative health and human services committee, the courts, corrections and justice committee and the legislative finance committee by September 1, 2013; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of cultural affairs, the acting director of the behavioral health services division of the human services department, the secretary of health, the secretary of children, youth and families and the governor.

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