HOUSE MEMORIAL 45

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Dennis J. Kintigh

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE INTERAGENCY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PURCHASING COLLABORATIVE TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW NEW MEXICO LAW AND PRACTICES REGARDING CIVIL COMMITMENT PROCEEDINGS AND TREATMENT GUARDIANSHIP FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.

     WHEREAS, there is statewide concern regarding the timely provision of mental health care to state residents; and

     WHEREAS, a number of bills have been introduced in the first session of the fiftieth legislature concerning the appropriate entity to petition for civil commitment, consent to treatment and concerns regarding treatment guardians; and

     WHEREAS, involuntary civil commitment in the state is governed by the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code; and

     WHEREAS, there is a diverse statewide interest in resolving these issues of mental health public policy for the benefit of all New Mexicans;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative be requested to convene a task force to address the issues raised in House Bills 497 and 559, as well as House Bill 499 and related legislation introduced during the first session of the fiftieth legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force members include, at a minimum, representatives from the New Mexico district attorney's association; the public defender department; the New Mexico association of counties; the department of public safety; the human services department; the department of health; the aging and long-term services department; the office of guardianship of the developmental disabilities planning council; the New Mexico behavioral health institute; the university of New Mexico health sciences center; other New Mexico psychiatric inpatient treatment facilities; the national alliance on mental illness; four individuals living with mental illness; disability rights New Mexico; the New Mexico mental health association; and representatives from the behavioral health planning council of New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to report its findings and recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee and to the courts, corrections and justice committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chief executive officer of the interagency behavioral health purchasing collaborative; the chief public defender; the director of the administrative office of the district attorneys; the executive director of the New Mexico association of counties; the secretary of public safety; the secretary of human services; the secretary of health; the secretary of aging and long-term services; and the manager of the office of guardianship of the developmental disabilities planning council.

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