HOUSE MEMORIAL 27

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Rebecca Dow

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO CONVENE A PARITY PAY TASK FORCE TO STUDY REIMBURSEMENTS TO NEW MEXICO PERSONAL CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.

 

     WHEREAS, on January 1, 2021, New Mexico's minimum wage increased to ten dollars fifty cents ($10.50) per hour; and

     WHEREAS, on January 1, 2022, New Mexico's minimum wage will increase to eleven dollars fifty cents ($11.50) per hour; and

     WHEREAS, on January 1, 2023, New Mexico's minimum wage will increase to twelve dollars ($12.00) per hour; and

     WHEREAS, in order for personal care service providers to keep pace with regulations and rising minimum wages for providing critical services, proportional increases to reimbursement rates are needed; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico child care providers that accept the rate the state pays for child care are not allowed to charge families receiving child care assistance more than the state rate for the hours listed on the placement agreement; and

     WHEREAS, in order for child care providers that provide substantial services to families receiving child care assistance to keep pace with regulations and rising minimum wages for these critical services, proportional increases to reimbursement rates are needed; and

     WHEREAS, state contractors provide valuable services, including health care services, child care services, sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention services, senior services, behavioral health services and other important services, to New Mexico's most vulnerable populations; and

     WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the state and its residents that state contractors be provided payment increases that recognize the increase in costs due to the minimum wage, staffing costs, administrative costs, unemployment insurance costs, workers' compensation costs and additional ancillary costs;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the chair of the legislative finance committee be requested to convene a parity pay task force by May 1, 2021, to:

          A. identify and quantify the impact of the scheduled minimum wage increases on state contractors and subcontractors that primarily derive their revenue from the state, including personal care service providers and child care providers;

          B. review the adequacy of the current rates for state contractors and subcontractors that primarily derive their revenue from the state, including personal care service providers and child care providers; and

          C. develop a plan and calculate new rates that would be needed to keep pace with the scheduled minimum wage increases affecting state contractors and subcontractors that primarily derive their revenue from the state, including personal care service providers and child care providers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the parity pay task force consist of:

          A. the secretary of human services or the secretary's designee;

          B. the secretary of early childhood education and care or the secretary's designee;

          C. the secretary of children, youth and families or the secretary's designee;

          D. the executive director of the New Mexico association for home and hospice care or the executive director's designee;

          E. the executive director of the New Mexico child care and education association or the executive director's designee;

          F. one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

          G. one member appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate;

          H. one member appointed by the minority floor leader of the house of representatives;

          I. one member appointed by the minority floor leader of the senate; and

          J. other stakeholders that the legislative finance committee believes could provide value to the task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the parity pay task force be requested to present a report of its findings and recommendations to the legislative finance committee and the legislative health and human services committee by November 1, 2021; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate, the secretary of human services, the secretary of early childhood education and care, the secretary of children, youth and families, the executive director of the New Mexico association for home and hospice care and the executive director of the New Mexico child care and education association.