HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 7

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson and Dayan Hochman-Vigil

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE REGULATION AND LICENSING DEPARTMENT, THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STUDY AND REPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

     WHEREAS, licensure requirements for behavioral health professionals vary from state to state; and

     WHEREAS, the United States department of health and human services reported in 2019 that New Mexico continues to suffer from a shortage of behavioral health providers; and

     WHEREAS, this shortage could be addressed by removing barriers to licensure for behavioral health professionals and by allowing licensure reciprocity with other states; and

     WHEREAS, standardizing New Mexico state licensure procedures for behavioral health professionals could provide a solution to the disparities in behavioral health care; and

     WHEREAS, the regulation and licensing department has the expertise necessary to evaluate and make recommendations for licensure requirements for behavioral health professionals;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the regulation and licensing department, the human services department and the department of health be requested to study and report and make recommendations on licensure requirements for behavioral health professionals; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the licensing of behavioral health professionals by the following boards be studied:

          A. the counseling and therapy practice board;

          B. the board of examiners for occupational therapy;

          C. the New Mexico state board of psychologist examiners; and

          D. the board of social work examiners; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, as part of the study, the regulation and licensing department, the human services department and the department of health be requested to:

          A. evaluate each license overseen by each of those boards;

          B. conduct a comparative analysis of each state's initial and renewal licensure requirements for the behavioral health professions overseen by boards or commissions;

          C. identify licensure requirements for behavioral health professionals that:

                (1) are unique to New Mexico and not required in other identified states; and

                (2) could be eliminated or lessened to make licensure of New Mexico's behavioral health professionals easier and more efficient;

          D. identify opportunities for the state to join existing interstate compacts through which licenses granted by member states for behavioral health professionals may be granted or recognized by other member states in a system of reciprocity or a similar system; and

          E. provide an explanation of how each board that is the subject of the study could improve licensure and renewal processes for applicants; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the regulation and licensing department be requested to report its findings and recommendations by January 1, 2021 to the counseling and therapy practice board, the board of examiners for occupational therapy, the New Mexico state board of psychologist examiners and the board of social work examiners; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the regulation and licensing department be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee by October 1, 2020; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the superintendent of regulation and licensing, the secretary of the human services, the secretary of health and the chair of the interim legislative health and human services committee.

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