Summary:

 House Bill15 (HB15) creates the Health Care Strategic Recruitment Program in the Workforce Solutions Department and providing services for qualified health care providers in health care shortage field. HB14 also includes an appropriation. 

Legislation Overview:

 House Bill15 (HB15) creates the Health Care Strategic Recruitment Program. The Program is created in the Department.  The Workforce Solutions Department, in collaboration with the health care authority, the Department of Health and the Higher Education Department, shall promulgate rules to enumerate the health care professions and allied health practices that shall be targeted in the program, including qualified health care providers in health care shortage fields.  

The program shall assist in the recruitment of qualified health care providers, each of whom meets the following qualifications: (1) graduated within the last ten years from a New Mexico public post-secondary educational institution in a degree- or certificate-granting educational program in a health care shortage field; and (2) does not currently work in health care in the state. 
The program shall: (1) assist recruitment efforts of New Mexico communities, health care facilities and health care practices for health care shortage fields; (2) engage in active outreach to New Mexico graduates who are qualified to work in health care shortage fields.

(3)  share information about relevant recruitment incentives that New Mexico offers; (4)  provide navigators to help applicants through the process of licensing and credentialing and act as a liaison with agencies as appropriate; (5)  provide other assistance to qualified health care providers as appropriate; (6)  compile and use relevant alumni contact data from public post-secondary educational institutions; (7)  track and compile information for relevant recruitment and retention incentive programs across New Mexico; and (8)  compile and share with the applicant information for relevant job openings, housing and community and area amenities.

The Department shall report annually to the Governor and the Legislature on the success of the program, including: (1)  analyses of collected data, services provided and the impact on successful job attainment; (2)  the number of graduates in the total potential applicant pool; (3)  the number of successful applicants; (4)  the number of successful hires and their job sites, the reasons an applicant may not want to apply, the number of days from recruitment to job placement, any obstacles that face applicants and any other data that may be deemed important to the Department and the Legislature. 

Any statutory changes may be recommended for the improvement of the Program.

An appropriation of two million dollars ($2,000,000) is to be appropriated from the General Fund for staffing and start-up cost. 



 

Amendments:

 Amended February 28, 2025 in HAFC
HAFCa/HB15: The House Appropriations and Finance Committee amendment to HB15 strikes on Page 1, lines 14 and 15, and line 2, on Page 4. This language that was struck, referred to making an appropriation of $2,000,000.