This bill amends the structure and operational framework of the Interagency Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative in New Mexico. Key changes include the removal of certain agency representatives from the collaborative, specifically the secretaries of aging and long-term services, finance and administration, workforce solutions, public education, and transportation, while adding representatives from early childhood education and care, the New Mexico behavioral health providers association, and the administrative office of the courts. The collaborative will now be chaired by the secretary of health care authority and is administratively attached to the office of the governor. Additionally, the bill establishes a Director of the Collaborative Nominating Committee, which will be responsible for selecting qualified nominees for the director position of the collaborative.

The bill also introduces new requirements for the collaborative, such as meeting publicly at least quarterly and considering public input at each meeting. It mandates the development of a comprehensive plan for statewide behavioral health service delivery, which must be revised every two years. The collaborative is tasked with submitting a consolidated behavioral health budget request and providing quarterly and annual reports on its performance and service adequacy. The bill repeals a previous section of law and sets an effective date for the new provisions as July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 24A-3-1, 24A-3-2