House Democrats Expand Outpatient Treatment for Behavioral Health and Deliver Wildfire Relief in Productive Special Session
Collaborative work on meaningful public safety and behavioral health solutions will continue in the lead up to the 60-day legislative session in January
Santa Fe, NM - House Democrats delivered on two urgent areas of need for the state of New Mexico in a one-day special session on Thursday. House Bill 1, which allocates funding for assisted outpatient treatment and wildfire victims, was passed through both chambers with broad bipartisan support and now goes to the desk of the Governor to be signed into law.
“We used our time effectively in this special session to deliver critical relief for our brothers and sisters in need and take tangible steps to improve behavioral healthcare in our state,” said Speaker of the House Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque). “In the months ahead, House Democrats will continue our work to bring stakeholders together and develop smart, meaningful solutions that truly improve community safety and access to essential services.”
House Bill 1 was sponsored by House Majority Floor Leader Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Harlan Vincent (R-Glencoe), Senator William F. Burt (R-Alamogordo), and Senator Liz Stefanics (D-Cerrillos).
“In what is likely my last legislative session, I was proud to bring together colleagues from both chambers and both parties on House Bill 1,” said Leader Chasey. “As responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, the legislature worked efficiently in this special session to address important issues facing our state.”
House Bill 1 dedicates $3 million to support and further expand assisted outpatient treatment and competency diversion pilot programs through the Administrative Office of the Courts. Programs will now be available in the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Twelfth Judicial Districts, spanning Bernalillo, Doña Ana, Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Los Alamos, San Miguel, and Otero Counties.
“House Democrats are fighting for the access to the behavioral healthcare that our constituents deserve,” said House Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe). “What we need, and what we will see in the 60-day session, is support for evidence-based care in our communities that ensure patients are no longer getting lost in the system or turned away when they are most in need.”
House Bill 1 also appropriates $100 million to relief, recovery, and fire mitigation efforts for communities impacted by the South Fork and Salt Fires that devastated parts of Southern New Mexico last month and continue to pose hazards for local residents.
“Part of being a New Mexican is taking care of one another. I’m glad that we were able to use this opportunity to deliver for our Southern New Mexico communities impacted by recent wildfires and subsequent flooding,” said House Majority Caucus Chair Raymundo Lara (D-Chamberino). “These timely appropriations will help local families and businesses recover, rebuild, and build resiliency against resulting and future natural disasters.”
Proposals from the Governor for the special session were discussed and thoroughly vetted in the legislature’s Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee over the past several weeks. During six special public meetings, bipartisan lawmakers from both chambers heard from the Governor’s staff, as well as subject matter experts, including law enforcement, judges, behavioral healthcare providers, and community leaders about the proposed legislation.
Along with lawmakers from both parties, a group of 41 advocacy organizations, and numerous other stakeholders and members of the public raised serious concerns about the potential negative impacts these proposals would have on New Mexicans, especially our most vulnerable residents. Legislative leadership also shared these concerns with the Governor’s office directly, provided feedback on multiple drafts of the bills, and suggested alternative proposals over the past several months.
Breakdown of wildfire relief funding:
$70 million to the Board of Finance to provide zero-interest reimbursable loans for public projects to replace or repair infrastructure damaged by fires and subsequent flooding
$10 million to the Mescalero Apache Tribe for damages and losses caused by the fires
$10 million to the the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department for wildfire mitigation, watershed restoration, slope stabilization, erosion control, post-fire management, and infrastructure reconstruction
$10 million to the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to provide support for individuals and businesses with processes for receiving public assistance funding and making private insurance claims
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