SENATE BILL 600

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Bernadette M. Sanchez

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; ESTABLISHING CULTURAL COMPETENCE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS IN CERTAIN HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

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

     Section 1. CULTURAL COMPETENCE HEALTH EDUCATION REQUIRED.--New Mexico institutions of higher education offering health education programs, both those culminating in a specific health-related degree and those resulting in completion of a curriculum in health-related technical competence, shall include courses ensuring knowledge of cultural awareness and competence in their respective health service fields. The curricula shall be required in four-year institutions; branch, community and junior colleges; and vocational and trade schools offering higher education degrees. The curricula shall be required at the undergraduate and graduate levels; provided that health students who have successfully completed cultural competence course work at the undergraduate level may be exempt from duplicate requirements at the graduate study level.

     Section 2. TEMPORARY PROVISION--TASK FORCE.--

          A. The higher education department shall lead a task force on cultural competence composed of health curricula specialists from each New Mexico institution of higher education, a single representative from each New Mexico health-related licensing board, a single representative from each statewide health-related professional association, one representative from the New Mexico health policy commission, one representative from the commission on the status of women, one representative each from statewide Hispanic, Native American and African American organizations, two representatives from the Indian affairs department and two representatives from the department of health.

          B. The task force shall study and make recommendations on specific course curricula for each health-related education field offered. The course work shall be designed to be offered electronically and through various distance-education methods and media so as to minimize duplication and expense. Cultural competence health courses shall include:

                (1) cross-cultural communication;

                (2) culturally and linguistically appropriate health policy considerations;

                (3) exploration of health beliefs and explanatory models;

                (4) culturally competent health care delivery;

                (5) health disparities, privilege and equity factors in the health system; and

                (6) culturally and linguistically competent care supported by policy, administration and practice.

     Section 3. TEMPORARY PROVISION--HEALTH PROFESSIONAL BOARDS--RECOMMENDATIONS.--The boards of health-related licensed professions regulated under Chapter 61, Articles 2, 3, 4, 5A, 6, 7A, 8, 9, 9A, 10, 11, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E, 13, 14A, 14B, 14D, 14E and 17A NMSA 1978 shall study and recommend to the governor and the legislative finance committee by August 2008 the continuing education courses to be required for licensure and license renewal by members of their respective professions. In preparing their recommendations, the boards shall consider the course curricula recommended for adoption at New Mexico institutions of higher education by the higher education department's task force on cultural competence.

     Section 4. TEMPORARY PROVISION--REVIEW.--The task force on cultural competence shall review its recommendations with the legislative health and human services committee by November 2007.

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