SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL 719

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE; MAKING HOSPITALS RECEIVING PUBLIC FUNDS SUBJECT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT WHEN THEIR POLICYMAKING BODIES MEET TO FORMULATE PUBLIC POLICY.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public Health Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] HOSPITALS--PUBLIC POLICY--OPEN MEETINGS ACT.--

          A. For the purposes of this section, "hospital" means a facility licensed by the department providing emergency or urgent care, inpatient medical care and nursing care for acute illness, injury, surgery or obstetrics and that receives or is supported by public funds. "Hospital" includes a facility that receives or is supported by public funds and that is licensed by the department as a critical access hospital, general hospital, long-term acute care hospital, psychiatric hospital, rehabilitation hospital, limited services hospital and special hospital.

          B. All meetings of a quorum of members of a board, decision-making body or policymaking body of a hospital held for the purpose of formulating public policy or taking any action within the authority of that board or body shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act."

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