FORTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE

SECOND SESSION, 2008

February 9, 2008

Mr. Speaker:

    Your HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

HOUSE BILL 409

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

     1. On page 1, line 12, strike "BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE" and on line 13, before "FOR" insert "HOSPITALS INDIGENT CARE FUND".

     2. On page 1, line 16, after the semicolon insert "CREATING A FUND;".

     3. On page 2, line 1, strike "board of regents of the" and on line 2, before "for" insert "hospitals indigent care fund".

     4. On page 2, line 7, strike "pursuant to Subsection A of this section" and insert in lieu thereof "from the university of New Mexico hospitals indigent care fund".

     5. On page 2, between lines 9 and 10, insert the following new section:

     "Section 2. [NEW MATERIAL] UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HOSPITALS INDIGENT CARE FUND CREATED--USE--APPROPRIATION BY THE LEGISLATURE.--

          A. There is created in the state treasury the "university of New Mexico hospitals indigent care fund". The fund shall be invested by the state treasurer as other state funds are invested. Income earned from investment of the fund shall be credited to the university of New Mexico hospitals indigent care fund. The secretary of the human services shall take all steps necessary to obtain matching funds from the federal government to match funds distributed to the university of New Mexico hospitals indigent care fund. The human services department shall provide for budgeting and accounting of payments to the fund. The fund shall not revert in any fiscal year.

          B.   Money in the university of New Mexico hospitals indigent care fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature to support indigent care at the university of New Mexico hospitals and to institute or support primary care health care services.

          C.   In the event federal matching funds are not received by New Mexico for any eighteen-month period, the unencumbered balance remaining in the university of New Mexico hospitals indigent care fund at the end of the fiscal year following the end of any eighteen-month period shall be paid within a reasonable time to the board of regents of the university of New Mexico for the provision of health care services at the university of New Mexico hospitals.".

     6. Renumber the succeeding sections accordingly.

     7. On page 2, line 14, strike "five thirty-secondths" and insert in lieu thereof "one-sixteenth".,

and thence referred to the TAXATION AND REVENUE COMMITTEE.