HEALTH CARE STRATEGIC RECRUITMENT PROGRAM

HB 15 creates New Mexico's Health Care Strategic Recruitment Program within the Workforce Solutions Department to address healthcare shortages. The program targets recent graduates (within 10 years) of New Mexico public colleges in healthcare shortage fields who aren't currently working in the state, providing recruitment assistance, licensing navigation, job matching, and housing information. It requires collaboration with health and education agencies, tracks applicant data, and mandates annual reports on program success to the legislature. The bill appropriates $2 million for program start-up costs in fiscal year 2026.