Health council receives $55K from junior bill

The Quay County Health Council will receive $55,000 from a so-called “junior bill” approved by the New Mexico Legislature during a one-day special session last week.

The 71-page bill states the money will be used by the local health council for staff. Four other health councils in Socorro, Grant and Chaves counties and in Los Alamos received nearly similar allocations.

Brenda Bishop of the Quay County Health Council stated in an email the allocation for her organization was “exciting news.”

“Councils were encouraged to do this prior to the start of the legislative session in January,” Bishop wrote. “This funding will run through the Department of Health, and they will determine the extra deliverables that will be required for this funding. Currently the Council only receives $9,462 to fulfill the charges of the County and Tribal Health Councils Act.

“We will use the funding for staff to work on assessing, prioritizing and planning for improved health services in the County. The junior bill funding will be a source of sustainable funding for the Council,” she added.

The bill awaited Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signature. Even if she vetoed it, vote totals during the special session indicated lawmakers could easily override it.

Bishop said the Quay County Health Council has two part-time contractors and is looking for another. Those contractors are funded by non-recurring grants, she said. Much of the work is done by about 50 volunteers.

Bishop said the Quay County Health Council is working on these initiatives:

• Increasing council capacity;

• Building a website to share community health resources;

• Improving COVID-19 vaccine equity;

• Identifying health equity issues in the county;

• Working on a Community Health Improvement Plan with Presbyterian Healthcare Services;

• Reducing lethal means of suicide;

• Providing active living opportunities;

• Encouraging healthy food choices;

• Increasing intimate partner violence awareness and resources;

• Reducing overdose deaths from opioids;

• Substance misuse prevention;

• Disseminating mental and general health information via social media.

The junior bill totaled about $50 million, with funding allocated to law-enforcement agencies, education, healthcare and other projects.

The legislature also approved a tax rebate that will give $500 to single New Mexico residents and $1,000 to couples who file taxes jointly. The money would be made in two payments, with the first no later than June 30. The second check would be distributed in August.The governor signed that bill on Friday.

The rebate comes in addition to tax rebates passed by the legislature during the 2022 regular session, with those checks coming in July.