44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1999

RELATING TO HEALTH; PROVIDING FOR NURSE STAFF LEVELS AT NURSING FACILITIES.

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

Section 1. NURSING FACILITIES--NURSE STAFF LEVELS.-- A. Nursing facilities licensed pursuant to the provisions of Section 24-1-5 NMSA 1978 shall employ nursing department staff sufficient to meet the care needs of the residents.

B. By December 31, 1999, the department of health shall adopt regulations to establish requirements for minimum nursing department staff in nursing facilities and for publicly posting the number of nursing department staff on duty. Prior to proposing those regulations, the department of health shall cooperate with and receive comments from the human services department, the state agency on aging, consumers, providers and advocates regarding the fiscal and service criteria applicable to the regulations. The effective date of the regulations shall be July 1, 2000.