BOARDING FOR CERTAIN HEALTH DISCHARGES

HB 116 requires the New Mexico Department of Health to pay licensed boarding homes $200 monthly for each resident discharged from the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute (Las Vegas) or the University of New Mexico Adult Psychiatric Center, starting January 1, 2026. This applies only to boarding homes licensed by the Department of Health and mandates the department to create rules for documentation and fraud prevention. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to cover these payments, with any unspent funds reverting to the general fund by year-end. It directly affects licensed boarding homes housing individuals transitioning from state psychiatric facilities.