HOUSE COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL 256
55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021
AN ACT
RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT; REQUIRING THE AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF LAUNCHING ELDER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN SELECTED RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--ELDER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES TASK FORCE--MEMBERS--DUTIES.--
A. As used in this section:
(1) "elder workforce development" means opportunities for an individual to grow skills and develop the tools necessary to support older adult independence;
(2) "home- and community-based services" means the types of person-centered care delivered in the home and community that address health, wellness and other services needed to support daily living activities to enable older adults to remain in their homes as they age; and
(3) "older adults" means persons sixty years of age and older.
B. The "elder workforce development in rural and tribal communities task force" is created. The secretary of aging and long-term services shall convene and support the task force. The task force shall have the following members:
(1) the secretary of health or the secretary's designee;
(2) the secretary of economic development or the secretary's designee;
(3) the secretary of higher education or the secretary's designee;
(4) the secretary of human services or the secretary's designee;
(5) the secretary of Indian affairs or the secretary's designee;
(6) the secretary of veterans services;
(7) the secretary of public education or the secretary's designee;
(8) the secretary of workforce solutions or the secretary's designee;
(9) the president of central New Mexico community college or the president's designee;
(10) the president of the New Mexico association of community colleges or the president's designee;
(11) the president of eastern New Mexico university or the president's designee;
(12) one representative of the New Mexico Indian council on aging;
(13) one representative of the Apache tribes with expertise in senior services;
(14) one representative of the Navajo Nation with expertise in senior services;
(15) one representative of the nineteen pueblos with expertise in senior services;
(16) three tribal leader representatives or the tribal leaders' designees;
(17) one representative of a tribally owned or operated long-term care service;
(18) one representative from tribal health care;
(19) one representative of the non-metro area agency on aging;
(20) one rural representative of the New Mexico association of counties;
(21) one rural representative of the New Mexico municipal league;
(22) one representative of the New Mexico rural hospital network;
(23) one representative of the New Mexico association for home and hospice care;
(24) one representative of the eastern plains council of governments; and
(25) one representative of AARP New Mexico.
C. The secretary of aging and long-term services may appoint additional task force members or may appoint nonvoting advisory members.
D. Public members of the task force are entitled to per diem and mileage as provided for state employees in the Per Diem and Mileage Act and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.
E. The task force shall conduct an asset mapping and gap analysis to determine the availability, accessibility and need for:
(1) services that support elder independence by providing opportunities for healthy and independent living in rural and tribal communities;
(2) elder workforce opportunities that contribute to the improved economic well-being and security of the selected rural and tribal communities; and
(3) services that support elder independence and elder workforce opportunities for rural and tribal veterans.
F. The asset mapping and gap analysis shall be conducted within three rural counties in northeast New Mexico and three tribal communities, based upon existing data, surveys, interviews and, when possible, site visits and convenings, and shall include:
(1) a study of existing services and the gaps in services for older adults, which includes:
(a) the number of older adults within the selected communities estimated to currently need home- and community-based services or that will need home- and community-based services in the future;
(b) the number of older adults within the selected communities who have received or requested home- and community-based services;
(c) the availability of and need for congregate and home-delivered meal services, including services tailored to the nutritional needs of older adults;
(d) the availability of and need for transportation services to support access to medical appointments, grocery stores, pharmacists, activities related to health and wellness, social opportunities and related needs to support independent living;
(e) the availability of and need for home maintenance programs to reduce the risk of falls, improve energy efficiency and ensure homes meet health and safety needs;
(f) the availability of and need for services that enhance quality of life among older adults, including social engagement, volunteerism, congregate meals and social connection opportunities;
(g) the availability of and need for services that promote intergenerational opportunities;
(h) the availability of and need for programs and services that support family caregivers, including those who are supporting people living with a form of dementia;
(i) the availability of and need for volunteer programs designed to support elder independence;
(j) the barriers in the selected rural and tribal communities to offering adequate services and supports for older adults; and
(k) other factors and information deemed beneficial by the task force; and
(2) a study of existing elder workforce opportunities and gaps in opportunities that contribute to improved economic well-being and security, including:
(a) the current or projected employment opportunities and vacancies in the elder workforce;
(b) the availability of and need for career counseling opportunities to support pathways to employment in the elder workforce;
(c) the availability of and need for educational training or certificates to equip current and future employees with the skills necessary to enter and remain in the elder workforce;
(d) the manner in which current employees in the elder workforce learned about employment opportunities in the field;
(e) whether and how workforce development organizations, including programs provided by the workforce solutions department, are leveraging existing resources through city, county, state and federal government to support elder services;
(f) the barriers to establishing and maintaining elder workforce opportunities that contribute to economic well-being and security for the selected rural and tribal communities; and
(g) other factors and information deemed beneficial by the task force.
G. The final report of the task force shall provide:
(1) an analysis of available home- and community-based services and the community-based services needed to support elder independence within the geographic boundaries of each selected tribal and rural community;
(2) an analysis of elder workforce opportunities that contribute to the improved economic well-being and security of residents of the selected rural and tribal communities and what elder workforce opportunities are needed to support economic well-being and security within the geographic boundaries of each selected tribal and rural community;
(3) an analysis of the barriers preventing the selected rural and tribal communities from offering needed home- and community-based services and supports for older adults;
(4) an analysis of the barriers preventing the selected rural and tribal communities from offering needed educational and workforce training to current and potential elder workforce members;
(5) an analysis of the workforce needs necessary to providing services for older adults in the selected rural and tribal communities;
(6) short-term policy and funding recommendations for:
(a) ensuring the availability of home- and community-based services that support older adults in the selected rural and tribal communities;
(b) ensuring that current and potential members of the elder workforce are equipped with appropriate training, education and career opportunities; and
(c) building the volunteer infrastructure necessary to support comprehensive home- and community-based services for older adults and elder workforce development in the selected rural and tribal communities; and
(7) long-term policy and funding recommendations for:
(a) providing home- and community-based services for older adults in rural and tribal communities in New Mexico; and
(b) strengthening the volunteer infrastructure necessary to support services that promote older adult independence and elder workforce development in rural and tribal communities in the state.
H. The task force shall report its preliminary findings and recommendations to the secretary of aging and long-term services by December 31, 2021.
I. The task force shall report its final findings and recommendations to the secretary of aging and long-term services by June 30, 2022.
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