SENATE BILL 286

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Michael Padilla

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO AUTHORIZE A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF A PILOT PROJECT TO COORDINATE CALL-IN TELEPHONE ASSISTANCE.

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

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL INTEGRATION--PILOT PROJECT--BERNALILLO COUNTY--REPORTING.--

          A. The local government division of the department of finance and administration shall charge a contractor that is a nonprofit entity with at least five years' experience in developing and implementing plans and programs to serve young children and families in Bernalillo county's south valley with conducting a one-year pilot project to coordinate information referrals across telephonic help lines to effectively guide families with young children to a wide array of state and local health and human services information and resources.

          B. The contractor shall conduct a survey of those health and human services information and resources available statewide and those specific to Bernalillo county or its subdivisions. It shall develop a report and a set of recommendations to:

                (1) strengthen existing relationships between service providers to improve awareness, trust and access to these services;

                (2) assist in ensuring that referrals, coordination and continuity of services are offered;

                (3) establish cross-training for health and human services telephone help line staff to facilitate the provision of information and referrals across programs; and

                (4) establish a coordinated information and referral system using shared forms and formats, tools and technology to collect information and track the outcomes of referrals within the network.

          C. By November 1, 2017, the contractor shall report its findings and recommendations for the integration of telephonic help line services for young families and children statewide to the governor, the legislative health and human services committee and the Bernalillo county board of county commissioners.

          D. As used in this section, "contractor" means a person with which the local government division of the department of finance and administration contracts to carry out the pilot project pursuant to this act.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the local government division of the department of finance and administration for expenditure in fiscal year 2017 to enter into a contract with a nonprofit entity that serves young children and families in Bernalillo county's south valley for the execution of the pilot project in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2017 shall revert to the general fund.

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