This bill establishes a new framework within the Health Care Authority Act to address homelessness in New Mexico by creating the Homelessness Reduction Division, the Interagency Homelessness Reduction Task Force, and the Homelessness Reduction Advisory Council. The Homelessness Reduction Division will be responsible for leading statewide efforts to prevent homelessness, coordinating resources, and developing a strategic plan aimed at reducing homelessness and improving health outcomes for affected individuals. The division will also create a "homeless data integration system" to collect and analyze data related to homelessness, ensuring that health information remains confidential and protected from public inspection.

The Interagency Homelessness Reduction Task Force will consist of various state agency representatives and will advise the Homelessness Reduction Division on initiatives to decrease homelessness and improve service outcomes. Additionally, the Homelessness Reduction Advisory Council will provide recommendations based on diverse perspectives, including those with lived experiences of homelessness. The bill includes an appropriation of $1 million from the general fund to support the operations of these new entities in fiscal year 2026, with any unspent funds reverting to the general fund at the end of the fiscal year. The provisions of this act will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 9-8-4