SENATE BILL 252

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH; AMENDING THE COUNTY AND TRIBAL HEALTH COUNCILS ACT; CHANGING THE NAME OF THE COUNTY AND TRIBAL HEALTH COUNCILS ACT TO THE REGIONAL HEALTH COUNCIL AND ACCESS ACT; PROVIDING FOR REGIONAL HEALTH COUNCILS; ESTABLISHING DUTIES OF REGIONAL HEALTH COUNCILS.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 24-1J-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 57, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "24-1J-1. SHORT TITLE.--[This act] Chapter 24, Article 1J NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "[County and Tribal Health Councils] Regional Health Council and Access Act"."

     SECTION 2. Section 24-1J-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 57, Section 2) is amended to read:

     "24-1J-2. PURPOSE OF ACT.--The purpose of the [County and Tribal Health Councils] Regional Health Council and Access Act is to improve the health of New Mexicans by encouraging the development of comprehensive, community-based health planning councils to identify and address local health needs and priorities."

     SECTION 3. Section 24-1J-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 57, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "24-1J-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the [County and Tribal Health Councils] Regional Health Council and Access Act:

          A. "board" means the board of county commissioners of a county or leadership of a tribe;

          B. "department" means the department of health;

          [C. "health council" means a county or tribal health council;

          D. "jurisdiction" means a county or a tribe; and]

          C. "regional health council" means one of five councils established within the Albuquerque metropolitan area and within the northwest, northeast, southeast and southwest quadrants of the state with borders defined by the department; and

          [E.] D. "tribe" means an Indian nation, tribe, pueblo or chapter of the Navajo Nation located within the boundaries of the state."

     SECTION 4. Section 24-1J-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 57, Section 6) is amended to read:

     "24-1J-6. DEPARTMENT--POWERS AND DUTIES.--The department shall:

          A. in consultation with regional health councils, develop benchmarks, expectations and mechanisms to ensure the long-term viability of regional health councils;

          B. in collaboration with universities, other state agencies and other public health entities, provide training, technical assistance and other supports to regional health councils;

          C. in collaboration with other entities, develop a system to evaluate the effectiveness of regional health councils and the gathering of necessary evaluation data;

          D. administer funding to support the work of the regional health councils, including local health council staffing, training and technical assistance, and monitor and evaluate contracts for funding; and

          E. adopt and promulgate rules as necessary to carry out the purposes of the [County and Tribal Health Councils] Regional Health Council and Access Act and to strengthen community-based health planning and self-determination."

     SECTION 5. A new section of the Regional Health Council and Access Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REGIONAL HEALTH COUNCILS--DESIGNATION.--

          A. The department shall establish rules governing the appointment of members to each regional health council and shall require that each board within a regional health council's borders appoint one member of the regional health council.

          B. Members of a regional health council shall elect from among themselves a chair for a term designated by the regional health council.

          C. Regional health council members shall not be paid, but they may receive per diem and mileage expenses as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act."

     SECTION 6. A new section of the Regional Health Council and Access Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] REGIONAL HEALTH COUNCIL DUTIES.--

          A. A regional health council shall prepare a regional health plan with recommendations for improving regional health care access. The plan shall be updated annually and be reported to the department, the state budget division of the department of finance and administration, the legislative finance committee and the governor's office before September 1 of each year.

          B. Each regional health plan shall include:

                (1) an assessment of health care needs within the regional health council's borders, including:

                     (a) identification of high-need health care services based on national benchmarks and nationally recognized best practices for determining service gaps;

                     (b) wait times to make an appointment to receive health services deemed high need by the regional health council; and

                     (c) average driving distances for residents residing within the regional health council's borders;

                (2) evidence-based recommendations to improve health care access;

                (3) evidence-based recommendations to increase the health care workforce for high-need professions and services;

                (4) a five-year strategic plan to improve health outcomes;

                (5) identification of infrastructure needs;

                (6) selection of performance measures to monitor health care access, services and quality;

                (7) a plan for collecting performance measure data; and

                (8) a request for funding the recommendations included within the regional health plan that takes into account local and federal funding sources.

          C. A regional health council shall:

                (1) collaborate with other entities to develop programs, networks, partnerships and coalitions as necessary to improve health;

                (2) advise boards within its jurisdiction and other entities regarding policies that affect health;

                (3) facilitate communication among local jurisdictions, state agencies and other entities; and

                (4) identify additional public and private resources to improve health in its respective jurisdiction."

     SECTION 7. REPEAL.--Sections 24-1J-4 and 24-1J-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019, Chapter 57, Sections 4 and 5) are repealed.

     SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2024.

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