The 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 policy and resource needs to effectively implement the strategic plan. 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 these initiatives in fiscal year 2026, with provisions for reporting and accountability to ensure progress in reducing homelessness in the state. The effective date for the provisions of this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 9-8-4