0001|                               AN ACT
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0002| RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; CREATING A SPECIAL ADVOCATE
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0003| PROGRAM WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON CONCERNS OF THE HANDICAPPED
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0004| TO COORDINATE WITH PROGRAMS SERVING PEOPLE WITH MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS.
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0005| 
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0006| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
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0007|      Section 1.  SPECIAL ADVOCATE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.--
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0008|           A.  There is established within the governor's committee on
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0009| concerns of the handicapped the special advocate program.  The program
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0010| shall:
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0011|                (1)  assist persons with mobility impairments in
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0012| achieving living arrangements that maximize independence and self-
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0013| direction;
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0014|                (2)  seek to improve coordination and availability of
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0015| services needed to achieve independence, including locating accessible
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0016| housing and transportation, provision and training of personal
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0017| assistants for mobility-impaired individuals and removal of
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0018| discriminatory and overly restrictive program regulations and policies
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0019| that favor institutionalization over independence;
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0020|                (3)  give priority to persons not eligible for
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0021| advocacy assistance from programs serving the developmentally disabled
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0022| or the elderly; of such persons, priority shall be given to those
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0023| currently residing in nursing homes who desire alternative placement;
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0024|                (4)  develop written procedures to coordinate with,
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0025| and avoid any duplication of effort with, the adult protective
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0001| services division of the children, youth and families department, the
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0002| office of the state long-term care ombudsman of the state agency on
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0003| aging and the community reintegration program of the long-term care
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0004| and restorative services division of the department of health; and
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0005|                (5)  adopt a policy of confidentiality of client
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0006| records consistent with the procedures of other entities of the state
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0007| and other programs with which it discusses individual client needs.
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0008|           B.  Any entity of the state, or any program receiving
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0009| state funds or that offers services paid in part by state funds,
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0010| shall provide to the special advocate any requested information
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0011| the entity or program possesses on eligibility requirements,
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0012| availability of funds, individual plans of care, client population
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0013| characteristics or any other matter relating to services, or
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0014| barriers to service, of clients or potential clients of the
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0015| special advocate program.                                          
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0016|                         
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