Contact a Legislator
For updates on national legislation:
http://www2.cdc.gov/phlp/suicidelegislation.asp
For NM legislative issues:
http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/default.asp
NM Legislative schedule:
http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/lcsdocs/
sessionsdates.pdf
Tell your Representative to support suicide prevention:
http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/leg.asp?who=H
Tell your Senator to support suicide prevention:
http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/leg.asp?who=S
To Contact Governor Richardson:
http://www.governor.state.nm.us/email.php?mm=6&type=opinion
New Mexico Legislative Action on Suicide
New Mexico has been fortunate to have senators and representatives recognize that suicide presents an enormous health problem in our state. Further, Governor Bill Richardson has made mental health among youth a top priority. Listed below are legislative and executive actions that have transpired related to suicide prevention in New Mexico.
2007
NMSPC schedules March 7, 2007 for Suicide Prevention Day at the Roundhouse, New Mexico’s legislature. During this event, NMSPC will educate legislators and the public on the severity of suicide, hold a candlelight vigil to honor those lost to suicide, and lobby for additional funding to support continued suicide prevention work in New Mexico. NMSPC will also have a press conference at 1:00 pm. It is crucial that we fill the Roundhouse with those who are concerned about suicide in New Mexico, so please join us as we bring attention to this issue. The Roundhouse is located at the corner of Old Santa Fe Trail and Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe. Click here for more information
2006
Governor Richardson declares 2006 Year of the Child in New Mexico. He promises improved healthcare in schools and approves funding for youth suicide prevention.
NM Suicide Prevention Coalition testifies before the NM legislative Finance Committee requesting suicide prevention funding. The Committee approves $500,000 for youth suicide prevention. In its decision, the Committee indicates that this funding will be a standing line item in the future, meaning Senators and Representatives will not have to sponsor bills for this funding in the future. The Committee indicates it will take the request for adult suicide prevention funding under advisement. Much of the monies allocated go to fund Agora (www.agoracares.com), one of the oldest crisis centers in the nation.
Senate Bill 75: Sen. Dede Feldman introduced bill that requested $500,000 from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2007 to expand suicide prevention resources and support to the adult population through statewide community coordination. Despite lobbying efforts by NMSPC, the Jason Foundation, and others, the bill died.
Senate Bill 27: Sen. Richard Martinez introduced a bill that requested $917,000 from the general fund to the higher education department for expenditure in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 to initiate, enhance and supplement behavioral health programs on community college and university campuses to address post-secondary student behavioral health needs, including suicide intervention and binge-drinking prevention education and services. The bill died.
House Bill 357: Introduced by Rep. Edward Sandoval, HB 357 requested $500,000 from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2007 to expand suicide prevention resources and support to the adult population through statewide community coordination. Despite lobbying efforts by NMSPC, the Jason Foundation, and others, the bill died.
House Bill 174: Rep. Joni Marie Gutierrez introduced "Kendra's Law", a controversial bill that requested judicial authority to order outpatient services, including case management services or assertive community treatment team services, to treat a person's mental illness and to assist a person in living and functioning in the community or to attempt to prevent a relapse or deterioration that may reasonably be predicted to result in harm to the person or another, suicide or the need for hospitalization. The bill died.
2005
Governor Richardson doubles the number of school based health clinics in New Mexico, from 34 to 68 sites.
Governor Richardson approves $520,000 for youth suicide prevention in New Mexico.
Department of Health Secretary Lujan-Grisham submits Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force recommendations for preventing youth suicide. The Task Force, comprised of mental health practitioners, community representatives, and specialists in suicide prevention, makes multiple recommendations for suicide prevention. http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/resources/nm_recs.pdf
Senate Joint Memorial 61: Sen. Pete Campos requested that the Public Education Department, The Department of Health, and the state universities collaborate to implement suicide prevention and response programs in all school districts and all institutions. Memorial passed.
Senate Bill 210: Sen. Dede Feldman requested $750,000 from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2006 to develop, implement, evaluate and contract with a statewide coalition of suicide prevention programs for a coordinated set of community-based, culturally appropriate suicide prevention programs and services throughout New Mexico. Despite lobbying efforts by NMSPC and others, the bill died.
Senate Bill 1037: Sen. Mary Jane Garcia Nine requested $917,000 from the general fund to the commission on higher education for expenditure in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to initiate, enhance and supplement behavioral health programs on community college and university campuses to address post-secondary student behavioral health needs, including suicide intervention and binge-drinking prevention education and services. The bill died.
House Bill 841: Rep. Luciano Verala requested $917,000 from the general fund to the commission on higher education for expenditure in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 to initiate, enhance and supplement behavioral health programs on community college and university campuses to address post-secondary student behavioral health needs, including suicide intervention and binge-drinking prevention education and services. The bill died.
House Bill 263: Rep. Gloria Vaughn requested $750,000 from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2006 to develop, implement, evaluate and contract with a statewide coalition of suicide prevention programs for a coordinated set of community-based, culturally appropriate suicide prevention programs and services throughout New Mexico. Despite lobbying efforts by NMSPC and others, the bill died.
2004
The Health and Human Services Committee hears testimony by Michelle Linn-Gust, JoAnn Sartorius, and others on the severity of suicide in New Mexico. This testimony, along with a meeting between Governor Richardson and Ms. Sartorius during which they discussed the suicide rates in our state, proves crucial to the suicide prevention movement in New Mexico.
House Bill 292: Rep. Steven Komadina introduced HB 292 which calls for the establishment of a Behavioral Health Planning Council that would both inform the Governor on the status of the behavioral health system in New Mexico and advise the Governor on effective behavioral health system design. The bill is approved. The Council, comprised of consumers and their family members, providers, state agencies, and others to assure diverse geographic and socio-cultural representation, begins operating.
House Bill 271: Rep. Edward Sandoval introduced HB 271, calling for an Interagency Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative. The Collaborative would serve to improve coordination among state agencies related to mental health services in order to enhance the behavioral health system throughout the state. The bill passes.
2003
Representative Dede Feldman introduces a bill which secures $25,000 in suicide prevention funding for Rio Arriba county.
