Health Care Authority would oversee children's mental health across New Mexico

The Health Care Authority would take responsibility for children's mental health and substance abuse services statewide. The Children, Youth and Families Department would handle mental health and substance abuse services for children in its custody. The Health Care Authority would coordinate with state agencies responsible for children, education, early childhood services, and health.

A children's behavioral health services division within the Health Care Authority would plan, oversee, and provide services. The division would serve children across New Mexico with behavioral health needs, including mental health and substance abuse needs. Its director would work with other state agencies on a statewide plan and contract with and partner with providers to make services more available. The director would report annually to lawmakers on children's service needs, care provided, and the division's activities.

The Children, Youth and Families Department would transfer staff and their related work to the Health Care Authority's children's behavioral health services division. The transfer would cover up to 90% of staff in the Children, Youth and Families Department's behavioral health services division. The two agency heads would jointly identify what would transfer. Duties, money, records, equipment, and other property would transfer when primarily tied to the transferred staff. Contracts and agreements tied to the transferred staff's activities would remain binding on the receiving division. The proposal names July 1, 2026, as the date for agency heads to jointly identify staff and related resources for transfer. The recorded actions do not establish that this happened.