HOUSE BILL 398

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Rodolpho “Rudy” S. Martinez

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO EXPAND A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WORK FORCE PROGRAM IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS OF THE STATE.

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

     SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. One hundred sixty-five thousand dollars ($165,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2014 to expand a successful health professional work force program developed in southwestern New Mexico. The program shall:

                (1) encourage secondary students raised in rural communities to enter health professions;

                (2) follow rural students through graduate health professional education;

                (3) provide interprofessional rural training experiences for students and medical residents; and

                (4) improve recruitment and retention of primary care providers in medically underserved areas of New Mexico.

          B. All funds appropriated pursuant to this section shall be provided to an existing department-of-health- contracted health professional work force program in southwestern New Mexico. No less than seventy-five percent of the funds provided shall be used to subcontract with no fewer than two public or private community-based organizations to operate the program described in Subsection A of this section.

          C. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2014 shall revert to the general fund.

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