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 oversee state efforts to prevent homelessness, coordinate resources, and develop a statewide 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. The Homelessness Reduction Advisory Council will provide recommendations and strategies to prevent homelessness, with members reflecting diverse backgrounds, 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 2027, with provisions for ongoing reporting and accountability. The effective date for the bill's provisions is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 9-8-4