The 60 day session of this legislature opened with new leadership in both chambers. Sen. Richard Romero is the new President pro tempore, replacing long time leader Manny Aragon, and Rep. Ben Lujan is the new Speaker in the House of Representatives, following the defeat of Raymond Sanchez.
With a projected state surplus of over $500 million in 2001, advocates are hoping for significant increases in disability programs. However, those needs are competing with salary increases for teachers and state employees as well as numerous other state programs. Hundreds of bills have already been introduced, and hundreds more are expected. Some of the disablility issues being addressed this year include:
· Funding for the Medicaid Waivers: There are over 2,000 people on the DD waiting list, and a similarly large number on the D&E list. Bills have been introduced to serve some or all of these individuals along with requests to increase the pay to providers and staff.
· Expansion of Mental Health Services: Several proposals would provide more funding for community-based mental health services, and support jail diversion projects to keep consumers out of jail and to expand local support services.
· Health Care Decisions: Sen. Cynthia Nava is sponsoring a bill to give people with disabilities more input into their health care decisions.
· DD Ombudsman: Rep. Ray Ruiz is sponsoring a bill to support an ombudsman program to assist persons with developmental disabilities in getting services.

· Other proposals seek to expand services of the Independent Living Centers, support an Assistive Technology Loan program, assist persons with disabilities to become home-owners, strengthen transition planning for young persons moving from school to work or higher education, and expand other programs for persons with disabilities.
Also of interest are numerous proposals to expand access to health care by making it easier for adults to qualify for Medicaid and by lowering the cost of prescription drugs.
For specific information on bills affecting persons with disabilities and their status in the legislative process, check the P&A Web Page at www.nmprotection-advocacy.com. To receive periodic e-mail reports, call the P&A office.

TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR: By phone, call the state capitol switchboard at 986-4300 and ask for your senator or representative. By e-mail, see the insert in this newsletter, or go through the legislative web page, www.legis.state.nm.us, where you can also find detailed information about bills and their committee assignments.