SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 32

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

TO STUDY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HEALTH CARE AND HUMAN SERVICES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

     WHEREAS, it is necessary to establish a health care and human services workforce development center, with responsibilities including a twenty-four-hour triage practice support line for rural or isolated practitioners and authority to direct licensing boards to develop annual plans to increase reciprocity, reduce barriers to licensure, and take steps to increase the number of health care and human services professionals practicing in underserved areas of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, it is necessary to assess the health care and human services workforce to identify the availability of existing personnel and the need for additional health care and human services personnel; and

     WHEREAS, it is necessary to enhance the existing health and human services professional workforce in New Mexico by developing career ladders and encouraging health and human services professionals to develop higher levels of specialization and proficiency; and

     WHEREAS, it is necessary to address specific recruitment and retention issues including state, federal and private resources currently used to train, license, place and support health and human services professionals in locations throughout New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is a culturally diverse state with various ethnic groups adhering to deeply held cultural values;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health, in conjunction with the New Mexico health policy commission, be requested to conduct a study to ascertain the need for a health care and human services workforce development center inclusive of the above responsibilities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the center, if established, be requested to:

          A. review and assess, on an ongoing basis, the health and human services professional workforce distribution and needs of the state, including the impact of various federal programs and requirements on the New Mexico health and human services workforce;

          B. assess the state, federal and private resources currently used to recruit, train, license, place and support health and human services professionals in locations throughout New Mexico;

          C. explore other resources that might be used to train, license, place and support health and human services professionals in locations throughout New Mexico;

          D. make recommendations for improvements in how state, federal and private resources should be used to train, license, place and support health and human services professionals in locations throughout New Mexico;

          E. perform these activities in a culturally sensitive manner, taking into account the health and human service needs of New Mexico's diverse population; and

          F. conduct its activities in a coordinated manner with the New Mexico health policy commission, the department of health, the commission on higher education, the public education department, the human services department, the labor department, the regulation and licensing department, the corrections department, the children, youth and families department, independent health professional licensing boards, higher education institutions offering health professional training and statewide health professional associations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health, in conjunction with the New Mexico health policy commission, report the findings of this study to the legislative health and human services committee by November 2004 and transmit two copies of the report to the legislative council service library; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico health policy commission, the department of health, the commission on higher education, the public education department, the human services department, the labor department, the regulation and licensing department, the corrections department, the children, youth and families department and the legislative health and human services committee.

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