HB 266

Page 1

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; CREATING THE TRAUMA SYSTEM FUND AUTHORITY;

CREATING THE TRAUMA SYSTEM FUND.

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

Section 1. SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the

"Trauma System Fund Authority Act".

Section 2. PURPOSE OF ACT.--The purpose of the Trauma

System Fund Authority Act is to provide funding to sustain

existing trauma centers, support the development of new trauma

centers and develop a statewide trauma system.

Section 3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Trauma System

Fund Authority Act:

A. "authority" means the trauma system fund

authority;

B. "department" means the department of health;

C. "fund" means the trauma system fund;

D. "secretary" means the secretary of health; and

E. "statewide trauma system" means a coordinated

continuum of care that includes injury prevention, emergency

medical, acute care hospital and rehabilitative services and

that is subject to accountability and system improvement.

Section 4. TRAUMA SYSTEM FUND AUTHORITY CREATED--

MEMBERSHIP.--

A. The "trauma system fund authority" is created.

HB 266

Page 2

The authority is administratively attached to the department.

B. The authority shall consist of at least nine

members, all of whom shall be appointed by and serve at the

pleasure of the governor. The membership of the authority

shall include the following:

(1) the secretary or the secretary's

designee;

(2) representation from the medical

specialty of trauma physicians;

(3) at least one member of a statewide

organization representing physicians in New Mexico;

(4) at least one member representing

emergency and trauma nursing practice;

(5) at least one member of a statewide

organization representing hospitals and health systems in New

Mexico;

(6) at least one member of a statewide

organization representing injury prevention;

(7) the chair of the statewide emergency

medical services advisory committee;

(8) the chair of the trauma advisory

committee; and

(9) at least one member of a statewide

organization representing rehabilitation services.

C. Authority members shall elect a chair and other

HB 266

Page 3

officers as the authority deems appropriate.

D. The authority shall meet regularly at the call

of the chair.

Section 5. DUTIES.--The authority shall:

A. develop criteria by which distribution of funds

to existing trauma centers and potential new centers will

occur;

B. receive applications and determine and monitor

the actual distribution of money from the fund that will

support the development of a statewide system of trauma care;

C. oversee the department's administration of the

fund and the development of a trauma system; and

D. report annually to the interim legislative

health and human services committee and the legislative

finance committee.

Section 6. TRAUMA SYSTEM FUND CREATED--FUNDING.--

A. The "trauma system fund" is created in the

state treasury. The fund shall consist of money appropriated

and transferred to the fund, money received by the authority

from any public or private source and tax revenues distributed

to the fund by law. Interest earned on investment of the fund

shall be credited to the fund. Disbursements from the fund

shall be made upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance

and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the

secretary of health or the secretary's authorized

representative. Money in the fund shall not revert at the end

of any fiscal year.

B. Money in the fund is appropriated to the

department for the purpose of making distributions approved by

the authority and for administering the Trauma System Fund

Authority Act; provided that no more than five percent of the

fund may be used by the department for administrative costs,

including monitoring, trauma system development and providing

technical assistance.

Section 7. RULES.--The department shall promulgate

rules to carry out the provisions of the Trauma System Fund

Authority Act. HB 266

Page 4