This bill establishes a new section within the Public Health Act that mandates the New Mexico Department of Health to provide financial support to licensed boarding homes that accommodate individuals discharged from the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute at Las Vegas or the University of New Mexico Adult Psychiatric Center. Starting January 1, 2026, these boarding homes will receive a payment of $200 per month for each resident who has been discharged from these facilities. The Department of Health is also tasked with creating rules governing the payment process, which will include requirements for documentation and measures to prevent fraud.

Additionally, the bill includes an appropriation of $250,000 from the general fund for the fiscal year 2026 to facilitate these payments to the boarding homes. Any funds that remain unspent or unencumbered by the end of that fiscal year will revert back to the general fund. This initiative aims to support the transition of individuals from institutional care to community-based living arrangements.