2003 Legislature Convenes

The 2003 state legislature convened for its 60-day session on Tuesday, January 21, 2003. The new Governor, Bill Richardson, is pursuing a number of new initiatives based on campaign promises and new policy directions, and legislators appear to have a new-found enthusiasm for their own favored projects after eight years of "Governor No". As a result, an extremely large number of bills is expected to be introduced during the session.

Although the state's financial situation is not nearly as grim as that of many other states, increased costs for the Medicaid program, teacher salary increases, state employee salary increases, and other budget needs will far exceed available revenues, producing the usual squeeze on the state budget and forcing competition between programs and constituencies.

As usual, disability advocates will be working to protect the Medicaid programs serving people with disabilities, and to promote new appropriations to expand services. Some of the funding requests likely to be considered include:

• DD Waiting List $6 million
• D&E Waiting List $1 million
• TBI services $2.5 million
• Independent Living $350,000
• DD Rate increases $4.818 million

In addition, P&A expects a number of bills that will have an effect on the rights of persons with disabilities, including bills that would:

• Amend the Uniform Health-Care Decisions Act to increase consumer involvement and self-determination.
• Amend the Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis of genetic information.
• Establish an Office of the Public Guardian to provide services directly or to oversee corporate guardianship agencies.
• Require a consumer-directed option in all Medicaid waiver programs
• Facilitate Medicaid coverage for people who will be leaving jail.
• Establish a planning group to develop a proposal for a Medicaid waiver for persons with mental illness, and a separate planning group to plan for long term care services to persons with traumatic brain injury through a Medicaid waiver.

P&A will distribute regular status reports throughout the session, and post its reports on the agency's web site (www.nmpanda.org). In addition, interested persons can find the text, committee assignments, and current status of any bill through the state legislature's web site, www.legis.state.nm.us.