SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 17
53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017
INTRODUCED BY
Linda M. Lopez
A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CONVENE A HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES RESTRUCTURING TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS OF AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
WHEREAS, in 2010, the government restructuring task force issued its findings and recommendations pursuant to its review of efficiencies that could be gained by consolidating some functions in state government; and
WHEREAS, there are many efficiencies that the government restructuring task force identified that have yet to be implemented; and
WHEREAS, among the recommendations that the task force made was the recommendation to examine the four major departments of state government dealing with health and human services: the human services department, the aging and long-term services department, the children, youth and families department and the department of health, as well as the many other state boards, commissions, councils and offices with health or human service missions; and
WHEREAS, the government restructuring task force made a finding that "consolidations leading to a simple, reasonable, coherent structure for health and human services policy and service delivery would realize benefits through each of the task force's guiding principles: efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and transparency"; and
WHEREAS, the government restructuring task force made a finding that "the many structures currently existing for one category of core service cannot be efficient, accountable or transparent and cannot possibly cost less or be more effective than a coherent structure"; and
WHEREAS, the children, youth and families department, the department of health and the human services department all provide vital health and human services supports and services to New Mexico's children and families; and
WHEREAS, the children, youth and families department is charged with developing policies and plans for services that include protective services, foster care, juvenile justice and many other functions of vital importance to children, youth and families statewide; and
WHEREAS, the department of health is charged with carrying out the laws and providing services related to public health, including strategic health planning for statewide implementation; responding to threats to public health; licensing health facilities; providing direct care through department-operated health facilities, such as clinics, the New Mexico behavioral health institute at Las Vegas and the Fort Bayard medical center; administering programs such as those related to dental care, suicide prevention, infant and maternal mortality, medical cannabis and other programs for prevention and treatment of health conditions; collecting and sharing aggregated health data; operating the state's scientific laboratory system and co-administering with the human services department the developmental disabilities medicaid waiver program, among many other functions; and
WHEREAS, the human services department is charged with administering many of the state's largest human services programs, including medicaid and other medical assistance; administering the supplemental nutrition assistance program; providing general assistance and cash assistance through temporary assistance for needy families; administering child support enforcement; providing access to behavioral health services statewide; providing refugee assistance; and co-administering with the department of health the developmental disabilities medicaid waiver program, among other functions; and
WHEREAS, the missions of the children, youth and families department, the department of health and the human services department overlap in many ways with respect to the provision of health and human services to New Mexico's children and families;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to convene a health and human services restructuring task force to examine the respective functions of and resources available to the children, youth and families department, the department of health and the human services department and to make recommendations for taking advantage of the possibilities for increased efficiencies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to charge the health and human services restructuring task force with examining memoranda of understanding; joint contractual relationships with private providers; consolidated budget requests and use of money via contracts, shared departmental structures and economies in personnel management; and regional outreach and education to determine how the children, youth and families department, the department of health and the human services department can be reorganized to meet their responsibilities with respect to New Mexico's children and families with greater efficiency and increased quality of services; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to invite the following to join the health and human services restructuring task force: representatives from the children, youth and families department; the department of health; the human services department; the New Mexico sentencing commission; the judiciary; court-appointed advocates; juvenile justice experts and advocates; state, county and local law enforcement; hearing officers; corrections officials; guardians ad litem; representatives of children; parents; foster children; foster parents; and representatives from the children and family advocacy community, including grandparents raising grandchildren; teachers; social workers; pediatricians; nurses; and legal services providers, including Pegasus legal services for children; and others as the New Mexico legislative council deems appropriate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico legislative council charge the health and human services restructuring task force with reporting its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee by December 1, 2018; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president pro tempore of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the governor, the legislative health and human services committee, the legislative finance committee, the secretary of children, youth and families, the secretary of health and the secretary of human services.
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