House Memorial 4 will continue the work of the parental paid-leave working group, which was
established in the 2015. Over the next six months, the working group will continue to gather the
data necessary to develop recommendations to establish a publicly managed paid parental,
family and medical leave program for New Mexico. The working group will present
recommendations to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee prior to December
31, 2018, for approval of a pilot program that to be voted on during the 2019 legislative session for
implementation beginning as early as July 2020. Executive Director Pamelya Herndon will chair
of this working group.
Any community members or organizations who are interested in joining either of the above-
described working groups should call the Law Center at (505) 244-0502 and let us know.
Additional legislative efforts during the 2019 Legislative Session
By Heather Tanner and Ernestine Chaco, Law Clerks
Accessing Medicaid: House Memorial 9 was passed during the
2018 legislative session authorizing the formation of a Taskforce
to explore the possibility of creating a Medicaid Buy-in Plan for
low income families in New Mexico who are not otherwise
covered by Medicaid and cannot afford insurance through the New Mexico health insurance
exchange.
Health insurance costs are routinely cited as the number-one reason why New Mexicans remain
uninsured. Most people who remain uninsured work in jobs that do not provide health
insurance. House Memorial 9 directs the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee to
explore the possibility of a Medicaid Buy-in Plan by gathering public feedback and evaluating the
feasibility of such a program. The Southwest Women’s Law Center will keep a watchful eye on the
findings of the Committee.
In addition, the Southwest Women’s Law Center will continue to work to strengthen and
enhance low income families’ access to Medicaid. SWLC will keep a watchful eye on federal
changes to the state’s 1115 waivers and how those changes may create barriers to healthcare
by our state’s most vulnerable populations.
Pregnant Worker Accommodations Returns: The Law
Center will again work to get a Pregnant Worker
Accommodation Policy for the State of New Mexico.
Legislation that would help pregnant workers access
the temporary accommodations they need to continue
to work throughout their pregnancy passed both the
House and Senate during the 2017 Legislative Session but was vetoed by Governor
Martinez. SWLC will be advocating for the passage of this legislation again during the
2019 Legislative Session under the new administration that will take office January 19,
2019.