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| SPONSOR: | Jennings | DATE TYPED: | 02/06/01 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Optimum Educational Environment | SB | 252 | ||||
| ANALYST: | Chabot | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
| $ 500.0 | Recurring | General Fund | |||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Children, Youth and Families (CYFD)
Health Policy Commission (HPC)
No Response
Department of Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
This bill appropriates $500.0 from the general fund to CYFD for the purpose of providing educational material on early childhood brain development, appropriate brain stimulation and learning techniques to new parents prior to the discharge of the newborn from a New Mexico hospital.
Significant Issues
The intent of the program is ensure that parents realize that all children, including newborns, need to receive stimulation so that they can develop cognitive skills. Providing this information at discharge is the optimum time to reach new parents. HPC states that giving the information on brain development and stimulation may enhance the newborn's long term development of motor and other skills, and may provide new parents the information to practice preventative care. CYFD does not have any hospital discharge programs. DOH, however, does provide discharge packets containing information for new parents.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
One output measure is proposed:
Number of families of newborns receiving information and training on brain stimulation and learning techniques:
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $500.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year shall revert to the general fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
If the program is administered by CYFD, they will have to develop policies and procedures, with existing staff, to ensure that parents of newborns receive materials and instruction on brain stimulation and learning techniques prior to discharge of the mother and child from the hospital.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Consideration should be given to making the appropriation to DOH. However, DOH did not respond for the request for analysis.
GAC/ar