0001|                           SENATE BILL 752
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0002|     43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997
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0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
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0004|                           SHANNON ROBINSON
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0005|     
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0006|     
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0007|     
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0008|                                   
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0009|     
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0010|                                AN ACT
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0011|     RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; CREATING A SPECIAL
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0012|     ADVOCATE PROGRAM WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON CONCERNS OF
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0013|     THE HANDICAPPED TO COORDINATE WITH PROGRAMS SERVING PEOPLE WITH
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0014|     MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS.
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0015|     
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0016|     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
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0017|          Section 1.  SPECIAL ADVOCATE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.--
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0018|               A.  There is established within the governor's
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0019|     committee on concerns of the handicapped the special advocate
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0020|     program.  The program shall:
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0021|                    (1)  assist persons with mobility impairments
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0022|     in achieving living arrangements that maximize independence and
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0023|     self-direction;
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0024|                    (2)  seek to improve coordination and
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0025|     availability of services needed to achieve independence,
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0001|     including locating accessible housing and transportation,
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0002|     provision and training of personal assistants for mobility-
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0003|     impaired individuals and removal of discriminatory and overly
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0004|     restrictive program regulations and policies that favor
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0005|     institutionalization over independence;
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0006|                    (3)  give priority to persons not eligible for
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0007|     advocacy assistance from programs serving the developmentally
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0008|     disabled or the elderly; of such persons, priority shall be
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0009|     given to those currently residing in nursing homes who desire
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0010|     alternative placement;
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0011|                    (4)  develop written procedures to coordinate
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0012|     with, and avoid any duplication of effort with, the adult
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0013|     protective services division of the children, youth and
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0014|     families department, the office of the state long-term care
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0015|     ombudsman of the state agency on aging and the community
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0016|     reintegration program of the long-term care and restorative
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0017|     services division of the department of health; and
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0018|                    (5)  adopt a policy of confidentiality of
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0019|     client records consistent with the procedures of other entities
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0020|     of the state and other programs with which it discusses
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0021|     individual client needs.
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0022|               B.  Any entity of the state, or any program
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0023|     receiving state funds or that offers services paid in part by
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0024|     state funds, shall provide to the special advocate any
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0025|     requested information the entity or program possesses on
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0001|     eligibility requirements, availability of funds, individual
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0002|     plans of care, client population characteristics or any other
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0003|     matter relating to services, or barriers to service, of clients
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0004|     or potential clients of the special advocate program.
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0005|                                    
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0006|   
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0007|                      FORTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
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0008|                        FIRST SESSION, 1997
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0009|   
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0010|   
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0011|                                                  March 15, 1997
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0012|   
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0013|   Mr. President:
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0014|   
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0015|       Your PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, to whom has been
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0016|   referred
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0017|   
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0018|                          SENATE BILL 752
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0019|   
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0020|   has had it under consideration and reports same with
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0021|   recommendation that it DO PASS, and thence referred to the
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0022|   FINANCE COMMITTEE.
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0023|   
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0024|                                Respectfully submitted,
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0025|   
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0001|   
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0002|   
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0003|                                
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0004|   __________________________________
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0005|                                Shannon Robinson, Chairman 
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0006|   
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0007|   
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0008|   
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0009|   Adopted_______________________   Not
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0010|   Adopted_______________________
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0011|             (Chief Clerk)                          (Chief Clerk)
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0012|   
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0013|   
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0014|                     Date ________________________
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0015|   
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0016|   
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0017|   The roll call vote was <u> 5 </u> For <u> 0 </u> Against
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0018|           Yes:    5
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0019|           No:     0
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0020|   Excused: Smith, Robinson, Ingle, Adair
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0021|           Absent: None
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0022|   
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0023|   
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0024|   
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0025|   
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0001|   S0752PA1
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