0001| HOUSE BILL 433 | 0002| 42ND LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, | 0003| 1996 | 0004| INTRODUCED BY | 0005| DAVID M. PARSONS | 0006| | 0007| | 0008| | 0009| | 0010| | 0011| AN ACT | 0012| RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; AMENDING PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC | 0013| ASSISTANCE ACT AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATED TO PUBLIC | 0014| ASSISTANCE TO ACCOMPLISH WELFARE REFORM; AMENDING, REPEALING AND | 0015| ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978. | 0016| | 0017| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0018| Section 1. Section 27-2-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0019| Chapter 376, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0020| "27-2-1. SHORT TITLE.--Sections [1 through 20 of this act | 0021| and Sections 13-1-9, 13-1-10, 13-1-12, 13-1-13, 13-1-17, | 0022| 13-1-18, 13-1-18.1, 13-1-19, 13-1-20, 13-1-20.1, 13-1-21, | 0023| 3-1-22, 13-1-27, 13-1-27.2, 13-1-27.3, 13-1-27.4, 13-1-28, | 0024| 13-1-28.6,13-1-29, 13-1-30, 13-1-34, 13-1-35, 13-1-37, 13-1-39, | 0025| 3-1-40, 13-1-41 and 13-1-42 NMSA 1953] 27-2-1 through 27-2-36 | 0001| NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Public Assistance Act"." | 0002| Section 2. Section 27-2-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0003| Chapter 376, Section 2, as amended) is repealed and a new | 0004| Section 27-2-2 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read: | 0005| "27-2-2. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.-- | 0006| A. As used in the Public Assistance Act: | 0007| (1) "department" means the human services | 0008| department; | 0009| (2) "federal act" means the applicable federal | 0010| law authorizing or regulating, or both, a federally funded state | 0011| administered public welfare program; | 0012| (3) "public welfare" or "public assistance" | 0013| means aid, assistance or relief granted to or on behalf of an | 0014| eligible individual pursuant to the provisions of the Public | 0015| Assistance Act or regulations adopted pursuant to that act; | 0016| (4) "recipient" means an individual who | 0017| receives public assistance or services pursuant to the Public | 0018| Assistance Act; and | 0019| (5) "secretary" means the secretary of human | 0020| services. | 0021| B. As used in Chapter 27 NMSA 1978: | 0022| (1) "AFDC", "TANF", "aid to families with | 0023| dependent children" or "temporary assistance to needy families" | 0024| means the state and federal welfare programs of aid to families | 0025| with dependent children or temporary assistance to needy | 0001| families and similar programs that supersede or replace those | 0002| programs; and | 0003| (2) "medicaid" or "medigrant" means the state | 0004| and federal medical assistance programs authorized pursuant to | 0005| the federal act and known by those names and similar programs | 0006| that supersede or replace those programs." | 0007| Section 3. Section 27-2-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0008| Chapter 376, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read: | 0009| "27-2-4. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.--Consistent | 0010| with the federal act, a person is eligible for public assistance | 0011| grants under the Public Assistance Act if: | 0012| A. pursuant to Section [13-17-3 NMSA 1953] 27-2-3 | 0013| NMSA 1978, the total amount of his nonexempt income is less | 0014| than the applicable standard of need; [and] | 0015| B. his nonexempt specific and total resources are | 0016| less than the level of maximum permissible resources established | 0017| by the [board; and] department; | 0018| C. he meets all qualifications for one of the public | 0019| assistance programs authorized by the Public Assistance Act; and | 0020| [D. within two years immediately prior to the | 0021| filing of an application for assistance, he has not made an | 0022| assignment or transfer of real property unless he has received a | 0023| reasonable return for the real property or, if he has not | 0024| received such | 0025| reasonable return, he is willing to attempt to obtain such | 0001| return and, if such attempt proves futile, he is willing to | 0002| attempt to regain title to the property; and | 0003| E.] D. he is not an inmate of any public | 0004| nonmedical institution at the time of receiving assistance [and | 0005| F. he is a resident of New Mexico]." | 0006| Section 4. Section 27-2-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0007| Chapter 376, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read: | 0008| "27-2-5. AMOUNT AND FORM OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE GRANT.--[A.] The amount and form of an eligible person's [maximum | 0009| grant of] public assistance is determined [by deducting the | 0010| total amount of his nonexempt income from the applicable | 0011| standard of need. However, if the amount of federal and state | 0012| funds available for public assistance is insufficient to provide | 0013| the grants for all eligible persons, the amount of grants to | 0014| eligible persons may be reduced as necessary. | 0015| B. The secretary of human services may set | 0016| individual and family maximum and minimum grant levels for each | 0017| program] pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. | 0018| These regulations shall include provisions for public assistance | 0019| programs that: | 0020| A. are designed to operate within legislative | 0021| appropriations; | 0022| B. include provisions for cash benefits, payments to | 0023| vendors on behalf of recipients and other non-cash benefits; | 0024| C. authorize the secretary to establish individual | 0025| and family maximum public assistance grant levels for each | 0001| public assistance program; | 0002| D. include a prohibition of any type of maximum | 0003| grant predicated upon size or increase in size of the family to | 0004| which assistance is granted; and | 0005| E. are not more restrictive than permitted by | 0006| federal law." | 0007| Section 5. Section 27-2-6.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1978, | 0008| Chapter 30, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0009| "27-2-6.1. SUPPLEMENTAL POSTNATAL ASSISTANCE.--The | 0010| [health and social services] department shall establish a | 0011| program of supplemental postnatal assistance for those mentally | 0012| retarded persons who during pregnancy received [aid] | 0013| temporary assistance to needy families [with dependent | 0014| children] but whose [aid] assistance was [revoked] | 0015| terminated upon relinquishment of the newly born child for | 0016| adoption. The supplemental postnatal assistance provided for in | 0017| this section shall be [at the same rate as aid to families with | 0018| dependent children] in the same form and amount as temporary | 0019| assistance to needy families, but [such] supplemental | 0020| postnatal assistance shall not [exceed a period of] continue | 0021| for more than sixty days. The [health and social services] | 0022| department shall [promulgate] adopt rules and regulations | 0023| [in order] to carry out the provisions of this section." | 0024| Section 6. Section 27-2-6.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1988, | 0025| Chapter 122, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0001| "27-2-6.2. [PUBLIC] TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY | 0002| FAMILIES--EMPLOYMENT [AND], TRAINING AND COMMUNITY SERVICE | 0003| ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS--STATUS OF RECIPIENTS.-- | 0004| [A. In the administration of all food stamp | 0005| employment and training programs, community work experience | 0006| programs, work incentive demonstration programs for recipients | 0007| of aid to families with dependent children and all other work | 0008| registration, work incentive or employment and training programs | 0009| established or conducted by the human services department, | 0010| participation of recipients shall be voluntary except as | 0011| prohibited by federal law or when mandatory participation is a | 0012| requirement in order to secure federal funding for services | 0013| provided. | 0014| B. Any waiver requests developed and submitted to | 0015| the federal government by the human services department for food | 0016| stamp employment and training programs, community work | 0017| experience programs, work incentive demonstration programs for | 0018| recipients of aid to families with dependent children and all | 0019| other work registration, work incentive or employment, education | 0020| and training programs shall include a voluntary program and may | 0021| also include a mandatory alternative. | 0022| C. The human services department shall promulgate | 0023| regulations which shall be published and made available for | 0024| public notice and comment which detail the criteria for | 0025| mandatory participation and exemptions in accordance with | 0001| federal law and regulations for persons in work, education, | 0002| training, job search and work experience programs administered | 0003| by the human services department prior to their implementation. | 0004| D. The human services department shall not place | 0005| persons in any community work experience or similar program | 0006| unless: | 0007| (1) appropriate standards for health, safety | 0008| and other conditions applicable to the performance of work are | 0009| met; | 0010| (2) the program does not result in displacement of | 0011| persons currently employed; and | 0012| (3) provision is made for transportation, day | 0013| care and other costs necessary and directly related to | 0014| participation in the program] | 0015| A. Temporary assistance to needy families is | 0016| provided pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. | 0017| These regulations shall include provisions: | 0018| (1) authorizing the department to require as a | 0019| condition of eligibility for a recipient the participation by a | 0020| recipient in programs of employment, educational or training | 0021| services or community services; and | 0022| (2) that are no more restrictive than the | 0023| federal law permits. | 0024| B. A recipient who is employed, participating in a | 0025| training or educational program or providing community services | 0001| as a condition of eligibility for receipt of temporary | 0002| assistance to needy families is not an employee of the | 0003| department for any purposes, except as may be otherwise provided | 0004| in the Unemployment Compensation Law, and is not entitled to any | 0005| employee benefits. Acts of the recipient while employed or | 0006| providing community services are not attributable to the | 0007| department, and the department is not liable for damages caused | 0008| by those acts." | 0009| Section 7. Section 27-2-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0010| Chapter 376, Section 10, as amended) is amended to read: | 0011| "27-2-7. GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM--QUALIFICATIONS AND | 0012| PAYMENTS.--[A.] Subject to the availability of state funds, | 0013| public assistance shall be provided under a general assistance | 0014| program to [or on behalf of] eligible persons who: | 0015| [(1)] A. are under eighteen years of age and | 0016| meet all eligibility conditions for [aid] temporary | 0017| assistance to needy families [with dependent children] | 0018| except the relationship to the person with whom they are living; | 0019| [or | 0020| (2)] B. are over the age of eighteen and are | 0021| temporarily disabled according to regulations of the [board] | 0022| department that incorporate a definition of "disabled" no more | 0023| restrictive than the definition of that term in the federal | 0024| Social Security Act and regulations adopted under it and who | 0025| are not receiving [aid] temporary assistance to needy | 0001| families [with dependent children]; or | 0002| [(3)] C. meet the qualifications under such | 0003| other regulations for the general assistance program as the | 0004| [board] department shall establish. [from time to time. | 0005| B. General assistance program payments may be made | 0006| directly to the recipient or to the vendor of goods or services | 0007| provided to the recipient. The board may by regulation limit | 0008| the grants that are made to general assistance recipients. | 0009| C. Whenever the board makes an adjustment in the | 0010| standard of need for the aid to families with dependent children | 0011| program pursuant to Section 13-17-3 NMSA 1953, it shall make a | 0012| commensurate adjustment in the standard of need for the general | 0013| assistance program.]" | 0014| Section 8. Section 27-2-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0015| Chapter 376, Section 13) is amended to read: | 0016| "27-2-9. PAYMENT FOR HOSPITAL CARE.-- | 0017| A. Consistent with the federal act, the department | 0018| shall provide necessary hospital care for recipients of public | 0019| assistance other than those eligible under the general | 0020| assistance program authorized by Section [10 of the Public | 0021| Assistance Act] 27-2-7 NMSA 1978. [The rate of] Payment | 0022| for inpatient hospital services shall be [based either on the | 0023| reasonable cost or the customary cost of such services, | 0024| whichever is less. In determining reasonable cost under this | 0025| section, the board shall adopt regulations establishing a | 0001| formula]: | 0002| (1) at the rate established by regulations | 0003| adopted by the department that are consistent with the federal | 0004| act [The department shall apply that formula to determine the | 0005| amount to which each hospital is entitled as reimbursement for | 0006| providing in-patient hospital services]; or | 0007| (2) if the hospital care is provided pursuant | 0008| to a managed care contract, at a rate or in an amount determined | 0009| as provided in that contract. | 0010| B. To receive reimbursement for providing in-patient | 0011| hospital services, a hospital shall file annually with the | 0012| department [such] information as required by the department | 0013| [may reasonably require to determine reasonable costs or the | 0014| hospital's customary cost of in-patient hospital services] | 0015| pursuant to its regulations. | 0016| C. [Any] A hospital entitled to reimbursement | 0017| for in-patient hospital services [shall be] is entitled to a | 0018| hearing, pursuant to regulations of the [board consistent with | 0019| applicable state law] department if the hospital disagrees | 0020| with the department's determination of the reimbursement the | 0021| hospital is to receive." | 0022| Section 9. Section 27-2-12.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1987, | 0023| Chapter 269, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0024| "27-2-12.3. MEDICAID OR MEDIGRANT REIMBURSEMENT [EQUAL | 0025| PAY FOR EQUAL PHYSICIANS', DENTISTS', OPTOMETRISTS', | 0001| PODIATRISTS' AND PSYCHOLOGISTS' SERVICES].--The [human | 0002| services] department shall establish [a rate] rates by | 0003| regulation for the reimbursement of [physicians, dentists, | 0004| optometrists, podiatrists and psychologists for] providers of | 0005| services rendered to medicaid or medigrant patients [that | 0006| provides equal reimbursement for the same or similar services | 0007| rendered without respect to the date on which such physician, | 0008| dentist, optometrist, podiatrist or psychologist entered into | 0009| practice in New Mexico, the date on which the physician, | 0010| dentist, optometrist, podiatrist or psychologist entered into an | 0011| agreement or contract to provide such services or the location | 0012| in which such services are to be provided in the state]." | 0013| Section 10. Section 27-2-12.4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1987, | 0014| Chapter 214, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0015| "27-2-12.4. LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES--[NONCOMPLIANCE | 0016| WITH] STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS.--[SANCTIONS.-- | 0017| A. In addition to any other actions required or | 0018| permitted by federal law or regulation, the human services | 0019| department shall impose a hold on state medicaid payments to a | 0020| long-term care facility thirty days after the health and | 0021| environment department notifies the human services department in | 0022| writing pursuant to an on-site visit that the long-term care | 0023| facility is not in substantial compliance with the standards or | 0024| conditions of participation promulgated by the federal | 0025| department of health and human services pursuant to which the | 0001| facility is a party to a medicaid provider agreement, unless the | 0002| substantial noncompliance has been corrected within that thirty-day period or the facility's medicaid provider agreement is | 0003| terminated or not renewed based in whole or in part on the | 0004| noncompliance. The written notice shall cite the specific | 0005| deficiencies that constitute noncompliance. | 0006| B. The human services department shall remove the | 0007| payment hold imposed under Subsection A of this section when the | 0008| health and environment department, pursuant to an on-site visit, | 0009| certifies in writing to the human services department that the | 0010| long-term care facility is in substantial compliance with the | 0011| standards or conditions of participation pursuant to which the | 0012| facility is a party to a medicaid provider agreement. | 0013| C. The human services department shall not reimburse | 0014| any long-term care facility during the payment hold period | 0015| imposed pursuant to Subsection A of this section for any | 0016| medicaid recipient-patients who are new admissions and who are | 0017| admitted on or after the day the hold is imposed and prior to | 0018| the day the hold is removed. | 0019| D. If a long-term care facility is certified in | 0020| writing to be in noncompliance pursuant to Subsection A of this | 0021| section for the second time in any twelve-month period, the | 0022| human services department shall cancel or refuse to execute the | 0023| long-term care facility's medicaid provider agreement for a two-month period, unless it can be demonstrated that harm to the | 0024| patients would result from this action or that good cause exists | 0025| to allow the facility to continue to participate in the medicaid | 0001| program. The provisions of this subsection are subject to | 0002| appeal procedures set forth in federal regulations for | 0003| nonrenewal or termination of a medicaid provider agreement. | 0004| E. A long-term care facility shall not charge | 0005| medicaid recipient-patients, their families or their responsible | 0006| parties to recoup any payments not received because of a hold on | 0007| medicaid payments imposed pursuant to this section. | 0008| F. This section shall not be construed to affect any | 0009| other provisions for medicaid provider agreement termination, | 0010| nonrenewal, due process and appeal pursuant to federal law or | 0011| regulation. | 0012| G. As used in this section: | 0013| (1) "day" means a twenty-four hour period | 0014| beginning at midnight and ending one second before midnight; | 0015| (2) "long-term care facility" means any | 0016| intermediate care facility or skilled nursing facility which is | 0017| licensed by the health and environment department and which is | 0018| medicaid certified; | 0019| (3) "new admissions" means medicaid recipients | 0020| who have never been in the long-term care facility or, if | 0021| previously admitted, had been discharged or had voluntarily left | 0022| the facility. The term does not include: | 0023| (a) individuals who were in the long-term | 0024| care facility before the effective date of the hold on medicaid | 0025| payments and became eligible for medicaid after that date; and | 0001| (b) individuals who, after a temporary | 0002| absence from the facility, are readmitted to beds reserved for | 0003| them in accordance with federal regulations; and | 0004| (4) "substantial compliance" means the | 0005| condition of having no cited deficiencies or having only those | 0006| cited deficiencies which: | 0007| (a) are not inconsistent with any federal | 0008| statutory requirement; | 0009| (b) do not interfere with adequate | 0010| patient care; | 0011| (c) do not represent a hazard to the | 0012| patients' health or safety; | 0013| (d) are capable of correction within a | 0014| reasonable period of time; and | 0015| (e) are ones which the long-term care | 0016| facility is making reasonable plans to correct] | 0017| A. Long-term care facilities participating in the | 0018| federal medicaid or medigrant program shall comply with the | 0019| licensure, certification and reimbursement requirements | 0020| established in state and federal law applicable to participation | 0021| in the program. | 0022| B. Long-term care facility licensure, certification | 0023| and participation requirements of the federal medicaid or | 0024| medigrant program shall be enforced by the human services | 0025| department and the department of health. | 0001| C. The human services department and the department | 0002| of health may adopt by regulation medicaid or medigrant | 0003| certification standards for long-term care facilities | 0004| participating in the federal medicaid or medigrant program." | 0005| Section 11. Section 27-2-12.5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, | 0006| Chapter 83, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read: | 0007| "27-2-12.5. MEDICAID- OR MEDIGRANT-CERTIFIED NURSING | 0008| FACILITIES--RETROACTIVE ELIGIBILITY--REFUNDS--PENALTY.-- | 0009| A. A medicaid or medigrant payment for a | 0010| medicaid- or medigrant-eligible patient shall be accepted by a | 0011| medicaid- or medigrant-certified nursing facility from the | 0012| first month of medicaid or medigrant eligibility, regardless | 0013| of whether the eligibility is retroactive. The nursing facility | 0014| shall refund to the patient or responsible party all out-of-pocket money except for required medical-care credits paid to | 0015| the nursing facility for that patient's care on and after the | 0016| date of medicaid or medigrant eligibility for services covered | 0017| by the medicaid or medigrant program. Within thirty days | 0018| after notification by the human services department of the | 0019| patient's medicaid or medigrant eligibility, the nursing | 0020| facility shall make any necessary refund to the patient or | 0021| responsible party required under this section. | 0022| B. In any cause of action brought against a nursing | 0023| facility because of its failure to make a refund to the patient | 0024| or responsible party as required under Subsection A of this | 0025| section, the patient or responsible party may be awarded triple | 0001| the amount of the money not refunded or three hundred dollars | 0002| ($300), whichever is greater, and reasonable attorneys' fees and | 0003| court costs." | 0004| Section 12. Section 27-2-12.6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0005| Chapter 62, Section 22) is amended to read: | 0006| "27-2-12.6. MEDICAID OR MEDIGRANT PAYMENTS--MANAGED | 0007| CARE.-- | 0008| A. The department shall provide for a statewide, | 0009| managed care system to provide cost-efficient, preventive, | 0010| primary and acute care for medicaid or medigrant recipients | 0011| [by July 1, 1995]. | 0012| B. The managed care system shall ensure: | 0013| (1) access to medically necessary services, | 0014| particularly for medicaid or medigrant recipients with chronic | 0015| health problems; | 0016| (2) to the extent practicable, maintenance of | 0017| the rural primary care delivery infrastructure; | 0018| (3) that the department's approach is | 0019| consistent with national and state health care reform | 0020| principles; and | 0021| (4) to the maximum extent possible, that | 0022| medicaid- or medigrant-eligible individuals are not identified | 0023| as such except as necessary for billing purposes. | 0024| C. The department may exclude nursing homes, | 0025| intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, medicaid | 0001| or medigrant in-home and community-based waiver services and | 0002| residential and community-based mental health services for | 0003| children with serious emotional disorders from the provisions of | 0004| this section." | 0005| Section 13. Section 27-2-23.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, | 0006| Chapter 184, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0007| "27-2-23.1. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT | 0008| EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS--CLAUSES TO EXCLUDE MEDICAID OR | 0009| MEDIGRANT COVERAGE PROHIBITED.--No employee health benefit plan | 0010| established under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of | 0011| 1974, 29 [U.S.C.] U.S.C.A. 1144 that provides payments for | 0012| health care on behalf of individuals residing in the state shall | 0013| contain any provisions excluding or limiting coverage or payment | 0014| for any health care for an individual who would otherwise be | 0015| covered or entitled to benefits or services under the terms of | 0016| the employee health benefit plan because that individual is | 0017| provided or is eligible for benefits under the medicaid or | 0018| medigrant program of this state pursuant to [Title XIX of] | 0019| the federal [Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 1396, et seq] | 0020| act." | 0021| Section 14. Section 27-2-27 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, | 0022| Chapter 90, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read: | 0023| "27-2-27. SINGLE STATE AGENCY--POWERS AND DUTIES.-- | 0024| A. The department is designated as the single | 0025| state agency for the enforcement of child and spousal support | 0001| obligations pursuant to [Title IV D of] the federal act with | 0002| the following duties and powers: | 0003| [A.] (1) establish the paternity of a child | 0004| in the case of the child born out of wedlock with respect to | 0005| whom an assignment of support rights has been executed in favor | 0006| of the department; | 0007| [B.] (2) establish an order of support for | 0008| children receiving [aid] temporary assistance to needy | 0009| families [with dependent children] and, at the option of the | 0010| department, for the spouse or former spouse with whom such | 0011| children are living, but only if a support obligation has been | 0012| established with respect to such spouse or former spouse, for | 0013| whom no order of support [presently] currently exists, and | 0014| seek modification, based upon the noncustodial parent's ability | 0015| to pay, of existing orders in which the support order is | 0016| inadequate to properly care for the child and the spouse or | 0017| former spouse with whom the child is living; | 0018| [C.] (3) enforce as the real party in | 0019| interest any existing order for the support of children who are | 0020| receiving [aid] temporary assistance to needy families | 0021| [with dependent children] or of the spouse or former spouse | 0022| with whom such children are living; and | 0023| [D.] (4) provide services to [non-aid] | 0024| families with dependent children not receiving temporary | 0025| assistance to needy families in the establishment and | 0001| enforcement of paternity and child support obligations, | 0002| including locating the absent parent. For these services, the | 0003| department is authorized to establish and collect fees, costs | 0004| and charges permitted or required by federal law or by regula- | 0005| tions adopted pursuant to that federal law. | 0006| [E.] B. In all cases handled by the department | 0007| pursuant to the provisions of this section, the child support | 0008| enforcement division of the department and any attorney employed | 0009| by the division represent the department in establishing, | 0010| modifying and enforcing support obligations." | 0011| Section 15. Section 27-2-28 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, | 0012| Chapter 90, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read: | 0013| "27-2-28. LIABILITY FOR REPAYMENT OF PUBLIC | 0014| ASSISTANCE.-- | 0015| A. A noncustodial parent is liable to the [human | 0016| services] department [in] for the amount of the public | 0017| assistance lawfully and properly furnished to the children, and | 0018| the spouse or former spouse with whom such children are living, | 0019| to whom the noncustodial parent owes a duty of support; except | 0020| that if a support order has been entered, liability for the time | 0021| period covered by the support order shall not exceed the amount | 0022| of support provided for in the order. | 0023| B. Amounts of support due and owing for periods | 0024| prior to the granting of public assistance shall be paid to and | 0025| retained by the [human services] department to the extent that | 0001| the amount of assistance granted exceeds the amount of the | 0002| monthly support obligation. | 0003| C. Amounts of support collected that are in excess | 0004| of the amounts specified in Subsections A and B of this section | 0005| shall be paid by the [human services] department to the | 0006| custodian of the child. | 0007| D. No agreement between any custodian of a child and | 0008| a parent of that child, either relieving the parent of any duty | 0009| of child or spousal support or responsibility or purporting to | 0010| settle past, present or future support obligations, either as a | 0011| settlement or prepayment, shall act to reduce or terminate any | 0012| rights of the [human services] department to recover from that | 0013| parent for support provided unless the [human services] | 0014| department has consented to the agreement in writing. | 0015| E. The noncustodial parent shall be given credit for | 0016| any support actually provided, including housing, clothing, food | 0017| or funds paid prior to the entry of any order for support. The | 0018| noncustodial parent has the burden on the issue of any payment. | 0019| F. An application for public assistance by any | 0020| person constitutes an assignment by operation of law of any | 0021| support rights the person is entitled to from any other person, | 0022| whether the support rights are owed to the applicant or to any | 0023| family member for whom the applicant is applying for or | 0024| receiving assistance. The assignment includes all support | 0025| rights that have accrued at the time of application for public | 0001| assistance and continues as an assignment of all support rights | 0002| the applicant is entitled to for as long as the applicant | 0003| receives public assistance. | 0004| G. By operation of law, an assignment to the [human | 0005| services] department of any and all rights of an applicant for | 0006| or recipient of medical assistance under the medicaid or | 0007| medigrant program in New Mexico or supplemental security income | 0008| through the social security administration: | 0009| (1) is deemed to be made of: | 0010| (a) any payment for medical care from any | 0011| person, firm or corporation, including an insurance carrier; and | 0012| (b) any recovery for personal injury, | 0013| whether by judgment or contract for compromise or settlement; | 0014| (2) shall be effective to the extent of the | 0015| amount of medical assistance actually paid by the department | 0016| under the medicaid or medigrant program; and | 0017| (3) shall be effective as to the rights of any | 0018| other individuals who are eligible for medical assistance and | 0019| whose rights can legally be assigned by the applicant or | 0020| recipient. | 0021| An applicant or recipient is required to cooperate fully | 0022| with the [human services] department in its efforts to secure | 0023| the assignment and to execute and deliver any instruments and | 0024| papers deemed necessary to complete the assignment by [that] | 0025| the department." | 0001| Section 16. Section 27-2-35 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1941, | 0002| Chapter 116, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read: | 0003| "27-2-35. CUSTODY OF RECORDS--DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.-- | 0004| The [New Mexico] department [of public welfare shall have] | 0005| has the power to [establish] adopt and enforce reasonable | 0006| rules and regulations governing the custody, use and | 0007| preservation of the records, papers, files and communications of | 0008| [its state and county departments] the department and to | 0009| restrict the use or disclosure of information contained therein | 0010| concerning applications for and recipients of assistance of any | 0011| kind to purposes directly connected with the administration of | 0012| [the Public Welfare Act] Chapter 27 NMSA 1978 and of any | 0013| related federal act, except as [hereinafter] otherwise | 0014| provided by an applicable state or federal law. | 0015| [a. RECORDS OPEN TO INSPECTION-EXCEPTIONS. The | 0016| department of public welfare shall, on or before the last day of | 0017| each month, make available in the county office of the | 0018| department of public welfare of each county a complete list | 0019| showing all the names and addresses of all the recipients | 0020| receiving payments under the Public Welfare Act within that | 0021| county for the preceding month, together with the amount paid | 0022| each during the said month. The reports shall be securely bound | 0023| in a separate record book provided for that purpose which said. | 0024| Book and all reports contained therein shall be, and the same | 0025| hereby are declared to be public records and shall be open to | 0001| public inspection at all times during the regular office hours | 0002| of said office, subject to rules and regulations of the | 0003| department. Provided, however, that nothing herein contained | 0004| shall be construed to authorize or require the disclosure of any | 0005| record of the public welfare department pertaining to adoptions. | 0006| b. UNLAWFUL USES. Except as provided in this | 0007| Act, it shall be unlawful for any person, body, association, | 0008| firm corporation or any other agency to solicit, disclose, | 0009| receive make use of or to authorize, knowingly permit, | 0010| participate in or acquiesce in the use of any name or list of | 0011| names for commercial or political purposes of any nature. | 0012| c. PENALTY. Any person, body, association, | 0013| corporation or any other agency who shall wilfully or knowingly | 0014| violate any provision of this act, shall be guilty of a | 0015| misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of | 0016| not less than twenty five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one | 0017| thousand dollars ($1,000), to which may be added imprisonment in | 0018| the county jail for any term or period not to exceed sixty | 0019| days.]" | 0020| Section 17. Section 27-2-43 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1990, | 0021| Chapter 93, Section 3) is amended to read: | 0022| "27-2-43. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Indigent | 0023| Catastrophic Illness Hospital Funding Act: | 0024| A. "department" means the human services department; | 0025| B. "fund" means the indigent catastrophic illness | 0001| hospital fund; | 0002| C. "hospital" means any general or special hospital | 0003| that is licensed by the [health and environment] department | 0004| of health and that has annual gross charges for medicare, | 0005| medicaid, [and] medigrant or indigent patients greater than | 0006| ten percent of the hospital's total annual gross charges; and | 0007| D. "medically indigent patient" means an individual | 0008| who is a New Mexico resident who incurs hospital charges, who is | 0009| not eligible for medicaid, medigrant or medicare and whose | 0010| family or household income does not exceed two hundred fifty | 0011| percent of the federal poverty level." | 0012| Section 18. Section 27-7-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, | 0013| Chapter 389, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read: | 0014| "27-7-16. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Adult Protective | 0015| Services Act: | 0016| A. "abuse" means: | 0017| (1) knowingly, intentionally or negligently and | 0018| without justifiable cause inflicting physical pain, injury or | 0019| mental anguish; or | 0020| (2) the intentional deprivation by a caretaker | 0021| or other person of services necessary to maintain the mental and | 0022| physical health of an adult; | 0023| B. "adult" means a person eighteen years of age or | 0024| older; | 0025| C. "appropriate facility" means any facility other | 0001| than a jail or detention facility; | 0002| D. "caretaker" means an individual or institution | 0003| that has assumed the responsibility for the care of an adult; | 0004| E. "conservator" means a person who is appointed by | 0005| a court to manage the estate of a protected adult; | 0006| F. "court" means the district court having | 0007| jurisdiction; | 0008| G. "department" means the [human services] | 0009| children, youth and families department; | 0010| H. "emergency" means that an adult is living in | 0011| conditions that present a substantial risk of death or immediate | 0012| and serious physical harm to himself or others; | 0013| I. "exploitation" means an unjust or improper use of | 0014| an adult's resources for another's profit or advantage, | 0015| pecuniary or otherwise; | 0016| J. "guardian" means a person who is a guardian of an | 0017| incapacitated adult pursuant to a court order; | 0018| K. "incapacitated adult" means any adult who | 0019| demonstrates over time partial or complete functional impairment | 0020| by reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness | 0021| or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication or | 0022| other causes to the extent that he is unable to manage his | 0023| personal care or he is unable to manage his personal property | 0024| and financial affairs; | 0025| L. "independent living arrangements" means a mode of | 0001| life maintained on a continuing basis outside of a hospital, | 0002| veterans' administration hospital, nursing home or other | 0003| facility licensed by or under the jurisdiction of any state | 0004| agency; | 0005| M. "interested person" means any adult relative, any | 0006| person who has an interest in the welfare of the adult to be | 0007| protected under the Adult Protective Services Act or any | 0008| official or representative of a protective services agency or of | 0009| any public or nonprofit agency, corporation, board or | 0010| organization eligible for designation as a protective services | 0011| agency; | 0012| N. "neglect" means failure of the caretaker of an | 0013| adult to provide basic needs such as clothing, food, shelter, | 0014| supervision and care for the physical and mental health for that | 0015| adult or failure by an adult to provide such basic needs for | 0016| himself; | 0017| O. "protected adult" means an adult for whom a | 0018| guardian or conservator has been appointed or other protective | 0019| order has been made; | 0020| P. "protective placement" means the transfer of an | 0021| adult from independent living arrangements to a hospital, | 0022| nursing home, domiciliary or residential care facility, or from | 0023| one such institution to another; | 0024| Q. "protective services" means the services | 0025| furnished by the department or a protective services agency or | 0001| its delegate, as described in Section 27-7-21 NMSA 1978; and | 0002| R. "protective services agency" means a corporation, | 0003| board or organization authorized by the department pursuant to | 0004| the Adult Protective Services Act to furnish protective services | 0005| to protected or incapacitated adults or to serve as conservators | 0006| or guardians of protected or incapacitated adults upon | 0007| appointment by a court." | 0008| Section 19. REPEAL.--Sections 27-2-37 through 27-2-40 NMSA | 0009| 1978 (being Laws 1980, Chapter 25, Sections 1 through 4, as | 0010| amended) are repealed. | 0011| - 27 - | 0012| State of New Mexico | 0013| House of Representatives | 0014| | 0015| FORTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE | 0016| SECOND SESSION, 1996 | 0017| | 0018| | 0019| February 8, 1996 | 0020| | 0021| | 0022| Mr. Speaker: | 0023| | 0024| Your CONSUMER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, to | 0025| whom has been referred | 0001| | 0002| HOUSE BILL 433 | 0003| | 0004| has had it under consideration and reports same with | 0005| recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows: | 0006| | 0007| 1. On page 2, line 22, strike ", "TANF"," and insert in lieu | 0008| thereof "or". | 0009| | 0010| 2. On page 2, line 23, strike "or "temporary assistance to | 0011| needy families"". | 0012| | 0013| 3. On page 2, line 25, after "children" strike the remainder | 0014| of the line, and on page 3, line 1, strike "families". | 0015| | 0016| 4. On page 3, line 3, strike "or medigrant"". | 0017| | 0018| 5. On page 3, line 9, before "Consistent" insert "A.". | 0019| | 0020| 6. On page 3, line 12, strike "A." and insert in lieu | 0021| thereof "(1)". | 0022| | 0023| 7. On page 3, line 15, strike "B." and insert in lieu | 0024| thereof "(2)". | 0025| | 0001| 8. On page 3, line 18, strike "C." and insert in lieu | 0002| thereof "(3)". | 0003| | 0004| 9. On page 4, line 2, strike "D." and insert in lieu thereof | 0005| "(4)". | 0006| | 0007| 10. On page 4, line 4, strike the quotation marks. | 0008| | 0009| 11. On page 4, between lines 4 and 5, insert: | 0010| | 0011| "B. For the purposes of determining eligibility | 0012| pursuant to the provisions of this section the standard of need in | 0013| effect on January 1, 1996 shall remain in effect thereafter and | 0014| shall not be reduced or restricted."". | 0015| | 0016| 12. On page 5, strike all of lines 7 through 23. | 0017| | 0018| 13. Renumber the succeeding sections accordingly. | 0019| | 0020| 14. On page 6, lines 1 and 2, strike "PUBLIC TEMPORARY | 0021| ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES" and insert in lieu thereof "AID TO | 0022| FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN". | 0023| | 0024| 15. On page 7, line 15, strike "Temporary assistance to | 0025| needy families" and insert in lieu thereof "Aid to families with | 0001| dependent children". | 0002| | 0003| 16. On page 7, between lines 23 and 24, insert the following | 0004| new subsections to read: | 0005| | 0006| "B. The department shall not impose the condition of | 0007| eligibility authorized pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subsection A | 0008| of this section on an applicant or recipient for assistance if: | 0009| | 0010| (1) the applicant or recipient is disabled within | 0011| the meaning of that term as used in the federal Social Security | 0012| Act; | 0013| | 0014| (2) the applicant or recipient lacks financial | 0015| resources for or has insufficient geographic access to adequate | 0016| child care; | 0017| | 0018| (3) the applicant or recipient is sixty years of | 0019| age or older; or | 0020| | 0021| (4) a child under the age of one year is included | 0022| in the household of an applicant or recipient who is the parent or | 0023| stands in the relationship of parent to that child. | 0024| | 0025| C. The department shall not place an individual in or | 0001| require an individual to accept employment pursuant to the | 0002| provisions of Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of this section if the | 0003| proposed employment: | 0004| | 0005| (1) is not in a work setting having adequate | 0006| standards for health, safety and other conditions applicable to | 0007| the performance of the work; or | 0008| | 0009| (2) would result in the displacement of an | 0010| existing worker.". | 0011| | 0012| 17. On page 7, line 24, strike "B." and insert in lieu | 0013| thereof "D." | 0014| | 0015| 18. On page 8, lines 1 and 2, strike "temporary assistance | 0016| to needy families" and insert in lieu thereof "aid to families | 0017| with dependent children". | 0018| | 0019| 19. On page 8, line 16, remove the brackets and line through | 0020| "aid" and strike "temporary assistance". | 0021| | 0022| 20. On page 8, line 17, strike "needy" and remove the | 0023| brackets and line through "with dependent children". | 0024| | 0025| 21. On page 8, line 24, remove the brackets and line through | 0001| "aid", strike "temporary assistance" and strike "needy" | 0002| | 0003| 22. On page 8, lines 24 and 25, remove the brackets and line | 0004| through "with dependent children". | 0005| | 0006| 23. On page 10, line 23, strike "OR MEDIGRANT". | 0007| | 0008| 24. On page 11, line 4, strike "or medigrant". | 0009| | 0010| 25. On page 11, strike all of lines 12 through 25. | 0011| | 0012| 26. Strike pages 12 through 15 and on page 16, strike lines | 0013| 1 through 5 in their entirety. | 0014| | 0015| 27. Renumber the succeeding sections accordingly. | 0016| | 0017| 28. On page 16, line 8, strike "OR MEDIGRANT". | 0018| | 0019| 29. On page 16, line 12, strike "or medigrant". | 0020| | 0021| 30. On page 16, line 16, strike "or medigrant". | 0022| | 0023| 31. On page 16, line 24, strike "- or medigrant". | 0024| | 0025| 32. On page 17, line 3, strike "or medigrant". | 0001| | 0002| 33. On page 17, strike all of lines 7 through 25, strike | 0003| pages 18 through 23 and on page 24, strike lines 1 through 12 in | 0004| their entirety. | 0005| | 0006| 34. Renumber the succeeding sections accordingly. | 0007| | 0008| 35. On page 27, between lines 11 and 12, insert the | 0009| following new sections: | 0010| | 0011| "Section 20. APPLICABILITY.-- | 0012| | 0013| A. The provisions of this act shall apply to an | 0014| individual submitting a new application for benefits after its | 0015| effective date. | 0016| | 0017| B. The provisions of this act shall not apply to an | 0018| individual already receiving benefits on July 1, 1996, but shall | 0019| apply to that individual on the date of recertification for | 0020| benefits for the individual occurring after July 1, 1996. | 0021| | 0022| Section 21. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the | 0023| provisions of this act is July 1, 1996.", | 0024| | 0025| and thence referred to the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. | 0001| | 0002| Respectfully submitted, | 0003| | 0004| | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| Gary K. King, Chairman | 0008| | 0009| | 0010| Adopted Not Adopted | 0011| | 0012| (Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk) | 0013| | 0014| Date | 0015| | 0016| The roll call vote was 7 For 1 Against | 0017| Yes: 7 | 0018| No: Charley | 0019| Excused: Baca, Sandel, Vigil | 0020| Absent: None | 0021| | 0022| | 0023| .111937.1 | 0024| H0433CP1 State of New Mexico | 0025| House of Representatives | 0001| | 0002| FORTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE | 0003| SECOND SESSION, 1996 | 0004| | 0005| | 0006| February 12, 1996 | 0007| | 0008| | 0009| Mr. Speaker: | 0010| | 0011| Your JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred | 0012| | 0013| HOUSE BILL 433, as amended | 0014| | 0015| has had it under consideration and reports same with | 0016| recommendation that it DO NOT PASS, but that | 0017| | 0018| HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE | 0019| FOR HOUSE BILL 433 | 0020| | 0021| DO PASS, and thence referred to the APPROPRIATIONS AND | 0022| FINANCE COMMITTEE. | 0023| | 0024| Respectfully submitted, | 0025| | 0001| | 0002| | 0003| | 0004| Cisco McSorley, Chairman | 0005| | 0006| | 0007| Adopted Not Adopted | 0008| | 0009| (Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk) | 0010| | 0011| Date | 0012| | 0013| The roll call vote was 10 For 1 Against | 0014| Yes: 10 | 0015| No: McSorley | 0016| Excused: Alwin, Sanchez, R.G. | 0017| Absent: None | 0018| | 0019| | 0020| | 0021| H0433JC1 HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR | 0022| HOUSE BILL 433 | 0023| 42nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 1996 | 0024| | 0025| | 0001| | 0002| | 0003| | 0004| | 0005| | 0006| AN ACT | 0007| RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; AMENDING PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC | 0008| ASSISTANCE ACT AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATED TO PUBLIC | 0009| ASSISTANCE TO ACCOMPLISH WELFARE REFORM; AMENDING, REPEALING AND | 0010| ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978. | 0011| | 0012| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: | 0013| Section 1. Section 27-2-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0014| Chapter 376, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0015| "27-2-1. SHORT TITLE.--Sections [1 through 20 of this act | 0016| and Sections 13-1-9, 13-1-10, 13-1-12, 13-1-13, 13-1-17, | 0017| 13-1-18, 13-1-18.1, 13-1-19, 13-1-20, 13-1-20.1, 13-1-21, | 0018| 3-1-22, 13-1-27, 13-1-27.2, 13-1-27.3, 13-1-27.4, 13-1-28, | 0019| 13-1-28.6,13-1-29, 13-1-30, 13-1-34, 13-1-35, 13-1-37, 13-1-39, | 0020| 3-1-40, 13-1-41 and 13-1-42 NMSA 1953] 27-2-1 through 27-2-36 | 0021| NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Public Assistance Act"." | 0022| Section 2. Section 27-2-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0023| Chapter 376, Section 2, as amended) is repealed and a new | 0024| Section 27-2-2 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read: | 0025| "27-2-2. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.-- | 0001| A. As used in the Public Assistance Act: | 0002| (1) "department" means the human services | 0003| department; | 0004| (2) "federal act" means the applicable federal | 0005| law authorizing or regulating, or both, a federally funded state | 0006| administered public welfare program; | 0007| (3) "public welfare" or "public assistance" | 0008| means aid, assistance or relief granted to or on behalf of an | 0009| eligible individual pursuant to the provisions of the Public | 0010| Assistance Act or regulations adopted pursuant to that act; | 0011| (4) "recipient" means an individual who | 0012| receives public assistance or services pursuant to the Public | 0013| Assistance Act; and | 0014| (5) "secretary" means the secretary of human | 0015| services. | 0016| B. As used in Chapter 27 NMSA 1978: | 0017| (1) "AFDC" or "aid to families with dependent | 0018| children" means the state and federal welfare programs of aid to | 0019| families with dependent children and similar programs that | 0020| supersede or replace those programs; and | 0021| (2) "medicaid" means the state and federal | 0022| medical assistance programs authorized pursuant to the federal | 0023| act and known by those names and similar programs that supersede | 0024| or replace those programs." | 0025| Section 3. Section 27-2-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0001| Chapter 376, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read: | 0002| "27-2-4. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.--Consistent | 0003| with the federal act, a person is eligible for public assistance | 0004| grants under the Public Assistance Act if: | 0005| A. pursuant to Section [13-17-3 NMSA 1953] 27-2-3 NMSA 1978, the total amount of his nonexempt income is less | 0006| than the applicable standard of need; [and] | 0007| B. his nonexempt specific and total resources | 0008| are less than the level of maximum permissible resources | 0009| established by the [board; and] department; | 0010| C. he meets all qualifications for one of the | 0011| public assistance programs authorized by the Public Assistance Act; | 0012| and | 0013| [D. within two years immediately prior to the filing | 0014| of an application for assistance, he has not made an assignment or | 0015| transfer of real property unless he has received a reasonable | 0016| return for the real property or, if he has not received such | 0017| reasonable return, he is willing to attempt to obtain such return | 0018| and, if such attempt proves futile, he is willing to attempt to | 0019| regain title to the property; and | 0020| E.] D. he is not an inmate of any public | 0021| nonmedical institution at the time of receiving assistance [and | 0022| F. he is a resident of New Mexico]." | 0023| Section 4. Section 27-2-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0024| Chapter 376, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read: | 0025| "27-2-5. AMOUNT AND FORM OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE GRANT.--[A.] The amount and form of an eligible person's [maximum | 0001| grant of] | 0002| public assistance is determined [by deducting the total amount of | 0003| his nonexempt income from the applicable standard of need. However, | 0004| if the amount of federal and state funds available for public | 0005| assistance is insufficient to provide the grants for all eligible | 0006| persons, the amount of grants to eligible persons may be reduced as | 0007| necessary. | 0008| B. The secretary of human services may set individual | 0009| and family maximum and minimum grant levels for each program] | 0010| pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. These | 0011| regulations shall include provisions for public assistance programs | 0012| that: | 0013| A. are designed to operate within legislative | 0014| appropriations; | 0015| B. include provisions for cash benefits, payments to | 0016| vendors on behalf of recipients and other noncash benefits; and | 0017| C. are not more restrictive than permitted by federal | 0018| law." | 0019| Section 5. Section 27-2-6.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1988, | 0020| Chapter 122, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0021| "27-2-6.2. [PUBLIC ASSISTANCE] AID TO FAMILIES WITH | 0022| DEPENDENT CHILDREN--EMPLOYMENT, [AND] TRAINING AND COMMUNITY | 0023| SERVICE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS--STATUS OF RECIPIENTS.-- | 0024| [A. In the administration of all food stamp employment | 0025| and training programs, community work experience programs, work | 0001| incentive demonstration programs for recipients of aid to families | 0002| with dependent children and all other work registration, work | 0003| incentive or employment and training programs established or | 0004| conducted by the human services department, participation of | 0005| recipients shall be voluntary except as prohibited by federal law | 0006| or when mandatory participation is a requirement in order to secure | 0007| federal funding for services provided. | 0008| B. Any waiver requests developed and submitted to the | 0009| federal government by the human services department for food stamp | 0010| employment and training programs, community work experience | 0011| programs, work incentive demonstration programs for recipients of | 0012| aid to families with dependent children and all other work | 0013| registration, work incentive or employment, education and training | 0014| programs shall include a voluntary program and may also include a | 0015| mandatory alternative. | 0016| C. The human services department shall promulgate | 0017| regulations which shall be published and made available for public | 0018| notice and comment which detail the criteria for mandatory | 0019| participation and exemptions in accordance with federal law and | 0020| regulations for persons in work, education, training, job search | 0021| and work experience programs administered by the human services | 0022| department prior to their implementation. | 0023| D. The human services department shall not place | 0024| persons in any community work experience or similar program unless: | 0025| (1) appropriate standards for health, safety and | 0001| other conditions applicable to the performance of work are met; | 0002| (2) the program does not result in displacement of | 0003| persons currently employed; and | 0004| (3) provision is made for transportation, day | 0005| care and other costs necessary and directly related to | 0006| participation in the program] | 0007| A. Aid to families with dependent children is provided | 0008| pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. These | 0009| regulations shall include provisions: | 0010| (1) authorizing the department to require as a | 0011| condition of eligibility for a recipient the participation by a | 0012| recipient in programs of employment, educational or training | 0013| services or community services; and | 0014| (2) that are no more restrictive than the federal | 0015| law permits. | 0016| B. The department shall not impose the condition of | 0017| eligibility authorized pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of | 0018| this section on an applicant or recipient for assistance if: | 0019| (1) the applicant or recipient is disabled as | 0020| determined by regulations adopted by the department; | 0021| (2) the applicant or recipient lacks financial | 0022| resources for or has insufficient geographic access to adequate | 0023| child care; | 0024| (3) the applicant or recipient lacks financial | 0025| resources for transportation costs or other costs directly related | 0001| to participation in the program; | 0002| (4) the applicant or recipient is sixty years of | 0003| age or older; | 0004| (5) a child under the age of one year is | 0005| included in the household of an applicant or recipient who is the | 0006| parent or stands in the relationship of parent to that child; or | 0007| (6) the applicant or recipient is otherwise | 0008| excluded from participation pursuant to regulations adopted by the | 0009| department. | 0010| C. The department shall not place an individual in or | 0011| require an individual to accept employment pursuant to the | 0012| provisions of Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of this section if the | 0013| proposed employment: | 0014| (1) is not in a work setting having adequate | 0015| standards for health, safety and other conditions applicable to the | 0016| performance of the work; or | 0017| (2) would result in the displacement of an | 0018| existing worker. | 0019| D. A recipient who is employed, participating in a | 0020| training or educational program or providing community services as | 0021| a condition of eligibility for receipt of aid to families with | 0022| dependent children is not an employee of the department for any | 0023| purposes, except as may be otherwise provided in the Unemployment | 0024| Compensation Law, and is not entitled to any employee benefits." | 0025| Section 6. Section 27-2-9 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, | 0001| Chapter 376, Section 13) is amended to read: | 0002| "27-2-9. PAYMENT FOR HOSPITAL CARE.-- | 0003| A. Consistent with the federal act, the department | 0004| shall provide necessary hospital care for recipients of public | 0005| assistance other than those eligible under the general assistance | 0006| program authorized by Section [10 of the Public Assistance Act] | 0007| 27-2-7 NMSA 1978. [The rate of] Payment for inpatient hospital | 0008| services shall be [based either on the reasonable cost or the | 0009| customary cost of such services, whichever is less. In determining | 0010| reasonable cost under this section, the board shall adopt | 0011| regulations establishing a formula]: | 0012| (1) at a reasonable rate established by | 0013| regulations adopted by the department that are consistent with the | 0014| federal act [The department shall apply that formula to determine | 0015| the amount to which each hospital is entitled as reimbursement for | 0016| providing in-patient hospital services]; or | 0017| (2) if the hospital care is provided pursuant to | 0018| a managed care contract, at a rate or in an amount determined as | 0019| provided in that contract. | 0020| B. To receive reimbursement for providing in-patient | 0021| hospital services, a hospital shall file annually with the | 0022| department [such] information as required by the department | 0023| [may reasonably require to determine reasonable costs or the | 0024| hospital's customary cost of in-patient hospital services] | 0025| pursuant to its regulations. | 0001| C. [Any] A hospital entitled to reimbursement for | 0002| in-patient hospital services [shall be] is entitled to a | 0003| hearing, pursuant to regulations of the [board consistent with | 0004| applicable state law] department if the hospital disagrees with | 0005| the department's determination of the reimbursement the hospital is | 0006| to receive." | 0007| Section 7. Section 27-2-12.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1987, | 0008| Chapter 269, Section 1) is amended to read: | 0009| "27-2-12.3. MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT [EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL | 0010| PHYSICIANS', DENTISTS', OPTOMETRISTS', PODIATRISTS' AND | 0011| PSYCHOLOGISTS' SERVICES].--The [human services] department shall | 0012| establish [a rate] reasonable rates by regulation for the | 0013| reimbursement of [physicians, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists | 0014| and psychologists for] providers of services rendered to | 0015| medicaid patients [that provides equal reimbursement for the same | 0016| or similar services rendered without respect to the date on which | 0017| such physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist or psychologist | 0018| entered into practice in New Mexico, the date on which the | 0019| physician, dentist, optometrist, podiatrist or psychologist entered | 0020| into an agreement or contract to provide such services or the | 0021| location in which such services are to be provided in the state]." | 0022| Section 8. Section 27-2-12.6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1994, | 0023| Chapter 62, Section 22) is amended to read: | 0024| "27-2-12.6. MEDICAID PAYMENTS--MANAGED CARE.-- | 0025| A. The department shall provide for a statewide, | 0001| managed care system to provide cost-efficient, preventive, primary | 0002| and acute care for medicaid recipients [by July 1, 1995]. | 0003| B. The managed care system shall ensure: | 0004| (1) access to medically necessary services, | 0005| particularly for medicaid recipients with chronic health problems; | 0006| (2) [to the extent practicable] maintenance of | 0007| [the] a rural primary care delivery infrastructure; | 0008| (3) that the department's approach is consistent | 0009| with national and state health care reform principles; and | 0010| (4) to the maximum extent possible, that | 0011| medicaid-eligible individuals are not identified as such except as | 0012| necessary for billing purposes. | 0013| C. The department may exclude nursing homes, | 0014| intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, medicaid | 0015| in-home and community-based waiver services and residential and | 0016| community-based mental health services for children with serious | 0017| emotional disorders from the provisions of this section." | 0018| Section 9. Section 27-7-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, | 0019| Chapter 389, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read: | 0020| "27-7-16. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Adult Protective | 0021| Services Act: | 0022| A. "abuse" means: | 0023| (1) knowingly, intentionally or negligently and | 0024| without justifiable cause inflicting physical pain, injury or | 0025| mental anguish; or | 0001| (2) the intentional deprivation by a caretaker or | 0002| other person of services necessary to maintain the mental and | 0003| physical health of an adult; | 0004| B. "adult" means a person eighteen years of age or | 0005| older; | 0006| C. "appropriate facility" means any facility other than | 0007| a jail or detention facility; | 0008| D. "caretaker" means an individual or institution that | 0009| has assumed the responsibility for the care of an adult; | 0010| E. "conservator" means a person who is appointed by a | 0011| court to manage the estate of a protected adult; | 0012| F. "court" means the district court having | 0013| jurisdiction; | 0014| G. "department" means the [human services] children, | 0015| youth and families department; | 0016| H. "emergency" means that an adult is living in | 0017| conditions that present a substantial risk of death or immediate | 0018| and serious physical harm to himself or others; | 0019| I. "exploitation" means an unjust or improper use of an | 0020| adult's resources for another's profit or advantage, pecuniary or | 0021| otherwise; | 0022| J. "guardian" means a person who is a guardian of an | 0023| incapacitated adult pursuant to a court order; | 0024| K. "incapacitated adult" means any adult who | 0025| demonstrates over time partial or complete functional impairment by | 0001| reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness or | 0002| disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication or other | 0003| causes to the extent that he is unable to manage his personal care | 0004| or he is unable to manage his personal property and financial | 0005| affairs; | 0006| L. "independent living arrangements" means a mode of | 0007| life maintained on a continuing basis outside of a hospital, | 0008| veterans' administration hospital, nursing home or other facility | 0009| licensed by or under the jurisdiction of any state agency; | 0010| M. "interested person" means any adult relative, any | 0011| person who has an interest in the welfare of the adult to be | 0012| protected under the Adult Protective Services Act or any official | 0013| or representative of a protective services agency or of any public | 0014| or nonprofit agency, corporation, board or organization eligible | 0015| for designation as a protective services agency; | 0016| N. "neglect" means failure of the caretaker of an adult | 0017| to provide basic needs such as clothing, food, shelter, supervision | 0018| and care for the physical and mental health for that adult or | 0019| failure by an adult to provide such basic needs for himself; | 0020| O. "protected adult" means an adult for whom a guardian | 0021| or conservator has been appointed or other protective order has | 0022| been made; | 0023| P. "protective placement" means the transfer of an | 0024| adult from independent living arrangements to a hospital, nursing | 0025| home, domiciliary or residential care facility, or from one such | 0001| institution to another; | 0002| Q. "protective services" means the services furnished | 0003| by the department or a protective services agency or its delegate, | 0004| as described in Section 27-7-21 NMSA 1978; and | 0005| R. "protective services agency" means a corporation, | 0006| board or organization authorized by the department pursuant to the | 0007| Adult Protective Services Act to furnish protective services to | 0008| protected or incapacitated adults or to serve as conservators or | 0009| guardians of protected or incapacitated adults upon appointment by | 0010| a court." | 0011| Section 10. REPEAL.--Sections 27-2-37 through 27-2-40 NMSA | 0012| 1978 (being Laws 1980, Chapter 25, Sections 1 through 4, as | 0013| amended) are repealed. | 0014| Section 11. APPLICABILITY.-- | 0015| A. The provisions of this act shall apply to an | 0016| individual submitting a new application for benefits after its | 0017| effective date. | 0018| B. The provisions of this act shall not apply to an | 0019| individual already receiving benefits on July 1, 1996 but shall | 0020| apply to that individual on the date of recertification for | 0021| benefits for the individual occurring after July 1, 1996. | 0022| Section 12. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the | 0023| provisions of this act is July 1, 1996. | 0024|  |