SENATE BILL 69

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2014

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald Ortiz y Pino

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; DIRECTING THE OFFICE ON AFRICAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS TO CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM IN BERNALILLO COUNTY TO ADDRESS AFRICAN AMERICAN INFANT MORTALITY AND MATERNAL HEALTH; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

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

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--PILOT PROGRAM--INFANT MORTALITY--MATERNAL HEALTH.--

          A. By July 1, 2014, the director of the office on African American affairs shall create and implement a one-year pilot program in Bernalillo county. The pilot program shall seek to reduce infant mortality and enhance maternal health among African American residents.

          B. The office on African American affairs shall partner with competent direct service providers to employ and track implementation of a prenatal health care model known as "centering" among pregnant African American women that has been proven nationally to reduce infant mortality and premature birth rates.

          C. The office on African American affairs shall design and implement a culturally competent tool for providing health care education and outreach to pregnant African American women living in Bernalillo county. Women participating in the pilot program shall be offered solutions for enhancing their health during pregnancy and reducing the risk of infant mortality.

          D. The office on African American affairs shall establish benchmarks for the pilot program. It shall collect and analyze qualitative data about the pilot program's outcomes and compare these outcomes to the benchmarks.

          E. By November 1, 2015, the director of the office on African American affairs shall report the findings and recommendations arising from the pilot program to the governor, the secretary of health and the legislative health and human services committee.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office on African American affairs for expenditure in fiscal year 2015 to fund a pilot program to reduce infant mortality and enhance maternal health among African American residents of Bernalillo county. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2015 shall revert to the general fund.

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