NMSHA LEGISLATIVE REPORT

FINAL REPORT	2005 LEGISLATION	NMSHA
HB 306 Sunset Act for all boards and commissions.	Our licensure board and various other boards and commissions are sunsetting this year. This bill contains all the dates for sunrise for expiring boards and commissions. Our board is set to sunset again in 2016.	Rep. Wallace House 66-0 Senate 26-0 Signed
HB 308 Practice Act Changes	On behalf of NMSHA, Maggie Horan worked with the Licensure Board to develop this bill. It updates the Licensure Act and places in statute the change in educational requirements for audiologists. It also contains the sunset date of 2016 as provided for in HB 306 (above). If you have time to read only one bill, this should be the one. It impacts all members. Click on “find a bill” at the legislative website http://legis.state.nm.us	Rep. Wallace House 68-0 Senate 27-0 Signed
SB 181 Increase Employee and Employer Contribution to Education Retirement Fund	Increase the employee contribution .075% each year for 4 years, which will take the employee contribution from 7.6% to 7.9%. When the increase if fully implemented will bring in $7.8 million. Increase employer contribution yearly for 7 years in the amount of .75% each year. This will take the employer contribution from 8.65% to 13.9% (an increase of 5.25% over 7 years or $138.1 million). If the fund reaches the projected investment return of 8%, the ERA will meet the 30 year standard for amortization of the unfunded actuarial liability by FY 11. By 2019 ERA would reach the benchmark of an 80% funding ratio (assets as a percentage of liabilities). The bill also provides for a rule of 75 (age + years of service equal 75)	Sen. Smith Unfortunately, the funding that Rep. Heaton got in HB 2 will be used to implement SB 181. Unlike HB 270 (Rep. Heaton) this bill requires an employee increase. Senate 28-9 House 51-15 Signed
SB 216 Educ. Return to Work Retirees	Requires return to work employees to pay 1.75% into the ERA & a sunset date of 2012.	Sen. Smith Senate 30-0 House 56-5 Vetoed
HB 318 Medicaid for Brain Injuries	The bill was vetoed in 2004. A Medicaid Self-Directed Waiver Program created for people with brain injuries. $2 million funding	Rep. Beam House 66-0 Senate 39-0 Signed
SB 125 Study Ed. Funding Formula	$350,000 appropriated to Legislative Council Service for 2005-2007 w/ a task force composed of legislators, gov. appointees, school supers, pres. of school board assoc.	Sen. Nava Senate 32-0 House 60-0 Signed
HB 337 Pre K Act	Public/Private Partnership	Rep. Miera House 37-29 Senate 22-18 Signed
SB 427 Allow some health care providers to purchase insurance thru the state risk mgmt.	Therapy service providers were not included	Sen. Komadina Senate 34-5 House 60-0 Vetoed
SB 589 Mandate $3500 Insurance benefit for Family, Infant, Toddler clients HB 685 (Same) Rep. Cordova		Sen. Ortiz y Pino Senate 30-0 House 47-14 Signed
HB 410 Tax Cuts	Three hours debating this bill the last day caused many other bills to die waiting for a final vote.	Rep. Lujan House 34-32 Senate 37-2 Signed
HB 440 Medical Personnel to Document Domestic Abuse	Document in patient files reported or suspected abuse and refer patient to services	Rep. Picruax House 58-2 Senate 32-1 Signed
HB 873 Local School Board submit Sept. 30 annually budget request to PED	Currently Oct. 15	Rep. Salazar House 61-0 Senate 17-10 Vetoed
FUNDING
House Bill 2 General Funding Bill for State Government	School employees 1.25% Raise Medicaid needs $11+ million to maintain current program. Cuts will be made in provider rates and therapy services to balance the budget. Family Infant and Toddler program received $1.1 million. DD Waiver received $2 million No new $s for D&E $12 million for ERA (School Employer Share) $5 million ERA (Higher Ed. Employer Share)	Signed by Gov.
SB 190 (HB 2 Jr.)	$50,000 for preschool services for DD children in Roswell; $50,000 for professional development for public school personnel in programs for 3 & 4 year olds developmentally delayed and kindergarten through grade three students regarding the educational and related needs of students with autism spectrum disorder Added in the House $25,000 Consulting on autism & related neurodevelopment concerns	Signed by Gov.
HB 172 Family, Infant, Toddler SB 62 (Same as HB 172) Sen. Komadina	Requested $3 million to fund a 3.2% COLA and to serve an additional + 720 families.	Rep. Madalena $1.1 million House Bill 2
SB 423 DD Waiver	Requested $3.54 million to serve + 175 families. The current waiting list time is 47 mos.	Sen. Nava $2 million in HB 2
Memorials	Passed and don’t require	Gov. Action
HJM 5 Retirement Moratorium	No changes until study is done House 55-6 Senate 33-0	Rep. Varela
HJM 9 Study Changing Educ. Retirement System SJM 17 Same as HJM 9	This study could be a serious threat to the current ERA system. It will study defined contribution vs. defined benefit plan (current plan).	Rep. Wallace House 60-2 Senate 32-3 Sen. Altamirano Senate 32-0 House 63-0
HJM 15 Educ. Retirement Fund Yearly Reports	Yearly Reports	Rep. Williams House 63-0 Senate 35-0
HJM 32 Study Autism Spectrum Disorder Services	Health & Human Service Interim Committee Study # of individuals & delivery of services	Rep. King House 65-0 Senate 35-0
HJM 35 PED provide info	Federal funding rec’d for No Child Left Behind Act	Rep. Foley House 54-3 Senate34-0
HJM 70 Audit of State Appropriations and Revenues Related to Health Care	NM Health Policy Commission and Department of Finance convene a task force to audit fiscal year 2006 appropriations for health care to determine how that spending is allocated.	Sen. Lopez Senate 35-0 House 66-0
HJM 72 Increase state govt. employment of persons with disabilities	Executive Task Force on Disability develop policies, procedures and guidelines to increase employment	Rep. Silva House 65-0 Senate 38-0
HM 2 Don’t Leave Child Behind Act	Express limitation of No Child Left Behind Act	Rep. Begaye House 40-22 No Senate action required
HM 32 Annual Financial Reports Children’s Medicaid Behavioral Health Programs	Requesting Secretary of Human Services to report each fiscal year 1995-2005 funding allocations private/public and management vs. direct service costs pre-Salud and post-Salud	Rep. Stewart House 56-0 No Senate action required
HM 36 Study Salary Schedule for School Secretaries, Clerks and Bookkeepers	Requesting Legislative Education Study Committee to conduct a study	Rep. Ruiz House 55-3 No Senate action required
SM 7Taskforce on Health Care Practitioner Liability Insurance	Requests Health Policy Commission & Insurance Division of the Public Regulation Commission to convene a taskforce on liability insurance.	Sen. Campos Senate 36-0 No House action required
BILLS	THAT FAILED
HB 83 3-Tier	Establishes a 3-tier system for instructional support providers. Was amended to further clarify the reciprocity for providers entering the educational setting from another employer or setting. It also guarantees NMSHA a place at the table to work with the Public Education Department (PED) in developing the system. Bill died in Senate Finance Committee because of an analysis claiming that it will cost over $10 million to fund the system.	Rep. Stewart Tabled in Senate Finance Committee (SFC). PED could study without legislative approval.
HB 137 Establish a 3 tier Educational Assistants		Rep. Miera House 65-0 Tabled SFC
HB 489 Disabled & Elderly Medicaid Waiver Prog.	Request for $3 million.	Rep. Antonio Lujan
SB 381 Scope of Practice Review	We have opposed similar proposal in previous sessions. Proposes to send scope of practice changes to the Health Policy Commission for review and recommendations to legislature.	Sen. Jennings Senate Rules Committee Tabled We will see this bill again. It comes up every other year.
HB 971 Health Care Practitioner Gross Receipts Tax	There were ten other bills to allow deduction of gross receipts tax on Medicare that did not include SLP & Audiologist providers and various other providers. This bill included all licensed health care providers	Rep. Sandoval House 66-0 Made it to the Senate Floor and then was tabled.
SB 785 Establish Cultural Competence Higher Education Requirements in Health Education Programs	A taskforce will be appointed. Statewide health professional organizations will have a member on the taskforce. The licensure board will also have a member.	Sen. B. Sanchez Senate 22-16 Did not pass the House.
SJM 1 Oppose Federal Medicaid Spending Caps	Medicaid funding is being attacked at all levels. If the memorial passes, letters will be sent from the NM Legislature to President Bush and our federal delegation opposing Federal spending caps. If spending caps are instituted, it will devastate the already in danger state Medicaid program.	Sen. Feldman Passed Senate 33-0 House Floor died waiting for a vote
HB 270 Educational Retirement Act Employer Contribution	Increase employer contribution yearly for 10 years to make the Educational Retirement Fund (ERA) financially sound. There are only four ways to correct the unfunded liability (+$2 billion) of the pension fund, increase employer contributions, increase employee contributions, reduce benefits or some combination of the three. One reason the Public Employee Retirement (PERA) pays a better benefit than ERA is because the employer contribution is almost 8% higher than what educational institutions currently contribute. A merger of the two funds will never be possible until the fiscal soundness of ERA is addressed.	Rep. Heaton House 44-21 Senate Finance Committee Tabled This was the bill we wanted. Thanks to all of you calling to support the bill.