[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6285272,"mediaKeyId","2573899-b505de5015a77c21659ebfb47c7c7a8d","parentId",2573899,"title","Senate panel hears House Bill 15 on strategic healthcare recruitment; committee debate centers on scope, metrics and overlap","audioSeconds",2224,"startMs",3777075,"endMs",6001820,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2573899-b505de5015a77c21659ebfb47c7c7a8d&start=3777&end=6001","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2573899-b505de5015a77c21659ebfb47c7c7a8d/thumbnail_3777075.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6285272/New-Mexico/Senate-panel-hears-House-Bill-15-on-strategic-healthcare-recruitment-committee-debate-centers-on-scope-metrics-and-overlap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285272-3e51f156a58019187608520888b42b50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141675&Signature=SvWCgiD3hrJqDafuGnx2nK4yHsk05-zu2MQCmcVhy9-wbjPsPrccylxI8VYDT3oyVEiE8BS9bNBUHpoaxB4jfiOt65eeO~8d-l1eHe7Ocs-NXv~8YxozskJDPIuDc3IWswa~JFlNCeg4ND879dHl8RaN23D0JvFrXv7p8vn9~Wqim826VeOUh20Zly6TPz01geGMyj7Cz3vXwx3NrwshQevM1S1bknNNYWw~e9kXLgI99BCpCuM7Ex7Sl2dfmos0vcqCHdqutNVGg8mYNDTNsKpO8knlaT0DUGPKZw611WHNj2fDEd9D5B5r9vYCDOXBMz45tXIc0LQm4TGl1AYD8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Mexico Legislature","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","A Senate Rules committee hearing examined House Bill 15, a proposal to establish a Healthcare Strategic Recruitment Program within the Department of Workforce Solutions to recruit and help re‑establish health-care workers trained in New Mexico. Representative Javier Anaya, the bill sponsor, described the program as \"a headhunter slash concierge program\" intended to bring New Mexico graduates back into state practice.

The bill would target graduates of New Mexico postsecondary institutions within the previous 10 years who do not currently work in-state in a health-care shortage field. Representative Anaya told the committee the program aims to remove barriers such as licensing delays, partner employment and childcare, and to coordinate incentives like loan-repayment programs. \"What this program will do... is open up a file for them, and we'll start walking them through the process,\" Anaya said.

Sarita Nyer, secretary of the Department of Workforce Solutions, said the program builds on the state’s workforce plan and that New Mexico has experienced net out-migration of workers. \"Between 2010 and 2022, New Mexico had a negative net migration to the tune of 30,000 individuals,\" Nyer said, arguing the proposal would allow proactive outreach to “boomerang” workers and free local career counselors to focus on other industries.

Supporters included private-practice representatives such as Dana Gray of the Desert States Physical Therapy Network. Key issues raised by senators included program scope, duplication with existing recruitment entities, funding, performance targets and data reporting. Several lawmakers suggested adding explicit goals and baseline metrics to measure success. \"If it gets fixed, I'll support it on the floor, but I just don't wanna throw money at it and have no metrics,\" Sen. Block said.

The bill text requires an annual report that would include counts of graduates contacted, successful applicants, hires, days from recruitment to placement and obstacles encountered. The committee also discussed the bill’s funding: the sponsor said $2 million in the executive budget (House Bill 2) would support the program start-up and administrative costs.

Opponents and skeptics at the hearing pressed for clearer performance goals, noted the risk of poaching in-state providers and asked for alignment with existing entities such as the health-resources recruitment groups. The sponsor and secretary said they expect to coordinate with existing recruiters and local workforce partners, including local workforce development boards and licensing boards, and to expand the program if it succeeds.

A senator moved a \"do pass\" recommendation and the committee conducted a roll-call-style vote. The transcript records a roll call with both yes and no votes recorded; the hearing transcript does not include a final, explicit committee disposition of the motion in the text provided.

Next steps: The bill will proceed through the committee process; the transcript shows the motion for a do-pass recommendation was taken to roll call, and supporters and critics indicated they will pursue amendments on metrics, reporting detail and interagency coordination.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate - Rules Mar 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers and witnesses debated House Bill 15, a Workforce Solutions-led program to recruit New Mexico-trained health workers back to the state. Supporters called it proactive; some senators urged clearer goals, metrics and coordination with existing programs.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",78419,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6285278,"Senate panel advances Gina de Blasio to full Senate for confirmation as Health secretary",3071,723475,3794820,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2573899-b505de5015a77c21659ebfb47c7c7a8d&start=723&end=3794","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2573899-b505de5015a77c21659ebfb47c7c7a8d/thumbnail_723475.jpg","/articles/6285278/New-Mexico/Senate-panel-advances-Gina-de-Blasio-to-full-Senate-for-confirmation-as-Health-secretary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285278-73117e03bdf85e15cf4a9cd8c05bc1a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141675&Signature=Rn0DCeQxsk3JwIqtCiu56nfz1rFqYoZtG5ki4kN7WbzZNS2xXH9SRgcOPiRqZQoxvxf2ZC8lXv0Pupnmdz94YP3fCe8bk-VnoAqXupYXWvmhbf-kcsGlIkQuVTP7ujUnX2fW6JlSipZQGTTMXzR6q7MaQrs5XPEd4Z5a4WYZSk2fwy0uguVzLqEp4yI1abcKn2C60PQBrTroiJDir6sZsle0PO3iKOqsbpZpSQVMnduuBlKm1SEutwPQkaCbpGucf-i6yYOoooI642f~OocM1EwcrIoRNoqxYYvFFu0ZRtvUpMVQHm05cmKWFcvVV1UTdRAXy99B59eUAzosXugGyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate Rules subcommittee voted to advance Gina de Blasio’s nomination to be secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health to the full Senate by a recorded nine-to-none subcommittee vote.

Gina de Blasio, the governor’s health policy adviser and interim Department of Health secretary, described more than 30 years in health care administration, including work running a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provider and managing multi-state operations with budgets she described as \"approximately $400,000,000.\" De Blasio said her immediate priorities would include strengthening the seven long-term care facilities the department operates, increasing census, improving quality and focusing on revenue cycle management.

Supporters included Michael Richards, executive vice president of the UNM Health Sciences Center, and Carrie Armijo, secretary of the Health Care Authority; both offered strong endorsements on her leadership and experience. Janice Torres, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, also testified in support.

De Blasio told senators the department has been active in recent public health responses, noting the Department of Health’s work on a measles outbreak in eastern New Mexico and early action on hantavirus investigations in Santa Fe. \"Since the outbreak, there have been over 9,000 vaccines that have been administered across the state,\" she said, adding the epidemiology team’s contact tracing work and that there were about \"33 cases in Eastern New Mexico\" tied to the outbreak through case investigations and contact tracing.

Lawmakers questioned De Blasio on rural hospital stressors, behavioral health and long-standing workforce shortages. She described the Health Care Delivery and Access Act, passed last year, which established a hospital assessment program designed to direct more federal matching funds to rural hospitals and said the statute requires at least 75% of funds to be used for local operations and workforce; she said she would review reporting for the remaining 25% and would \"be happy to look at\" additional transparency measures.

Senators also pressed De Blasio on coordination with the Health Care Authority and with the Children, Youth and Families Department on a program to support substance-exposed newborns. \"It's gonna take not just CYFD and the Department of Health to work closely together, but also the Health Care Authority, and Early Childhood and Education Department as well,\" she said.

Sen. Stebbex moved to advance the nomination; a roll-call-style confirmation by the subcommittee recorded nine votes in favor. The chair announced that De Blasio would move to a full Senate confirmation later the same day.

What was recorded: De Blasio said she has served in the Department of Health in an interim capacity since Nov. 1 (stated in testimony), emphasized priorities for department-operated facilities and public-health offices statewide, and described interagency work on behavioral health, rural-hospital support, and vaccination and outbreak response. Supporters from UNM and the Health Care Authority testified to her leadership and operational experience.

Next steps: The subcommittee advanced the nomination to the full Senate for confirmation; the subcommittee did not take a final floor confirmation vote.

","A Senate Rules subcommittee voted to forward Gina de Blasio’s nomination for secretary of the Department of Health to the full Senate, after testimony about her health-care management background, pandemic response and priorities for state facilities and workforce.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6285282,"Senate subcommittee advances Chris Heffner’s reappointment as New Mexico state mine inspector",709,6481,716330,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2573899-b505de5015a77c21659ebfb47c7c7a8d&start=6&end=716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2573899-b505de5015a77c21659ebfb47c7c7a8d/thumbnail_6481.jpg","/articles/6285282/New-Mexico/Senate-subcommittee-advances-Chris-Heffners-reappointment-as-New-Mexico-state-mine-inspector","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6285282-648634e3e3020bbf64954c40ebc244bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141675&Signature=Pah~~bWMKJ~d3~uAvLhwnAoYqqbzcnz1PmhD9NIkyHbq62upPsHogZC12buULRyc0OcCeDBdd9J6dz4hZ4pi29uTQB0bHemqZOIeereGJ1u1f35vAuZSJkdKwUdmPuM-RFDOltxIlJ7h19L5WhIR51i02KL0-hl7feiwxCs5zEWyVnS5Yp-jA04R5rQoRN61mvbiB6w9fDgHvtKFZppFiuerrBeVf5fEsT~YdkowXwnkUkgqr-~~ErzcTmAfGvLCn8v2fmRrMZXI2PlhiC2uEw1CaVEBHNLRH8IqpH47w2fTHqXItW0NVIAPtIGV~T~d8iq5toS3cYQNFW9-2sb8Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate Rules subcommittee voted to advance the reappointment of Chris Heffner to the full New Mexico Senate for confirmation, with a recorded nine votes in favor.

Heffner, the state mine inspector, told the committee he has overseen training and accident investigations statewide during his four years in the job and said a recent rule change created an official Deputy State Mine Inspector so responsibilities continue during his absence. \"We train approximately 1,500 miners every year,\" Heffner said, adding that figure represents roughly \"20 to 35% of all the miners in the state.\" Heffner also said his office performs about \"15 to 20 compliance inspections per year.\"

The committee heard support for the reappointment from John Purcell, chair of the New Mexico Mine Safety Board, who joined by Zoom and urged unanimous confirmation. \"I wholeheartedly support Chris and endorse him for reconfirmation,\" Purcell said.

Why it matters: the state mine inspector enforces miner safety, conducts inspections and investigates accidents across New Mexico’s diverse mining sectors, including potash operations in the southeast and copper and coal districts in other regions. Committee members pressed Heffner on staffing, training capacity and coordination with federal inspectors.

During questioning, Sen. Gregos asked about field staffing and training availability for mine operators; Heffner said his inspectors travel frequently and that the office used to do employer-specific training and is willing to reintroduce that. Heffner also described friction with federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspections, saying MSHA is short-staffed and sometimes assigns inspectors more familiar with coal mines to metal/nonmetal operations, which can lead to inconsistent citations. \"MSHA is relatively short staffed at this time,\" Heffner said, adding that some incoming inspectors \"have actually never worked in a mine.\"

Sen. Duhigg moved to advance Heffner’s nomination to the full Senate; the committee conducted a voice/roll-call style vote with nine members recorded in favor. The committee chair announced: \"With the vote in 9 in favor of your reappointment, you'll be moving forward for a full senate confirmation later this morning.\" The transcript records affirmative responses from senators during the roll call but does not list any opposing votes.

Details committees flagged: Heffner noted one underground mine closure in Farmington during his tenure and described his office’s use of an MSHA grant for compliance work. He emphasized the importance of having a deputy inspector in place for continuity of operations.

What’s next: Heffner’s nomination advances to the full Senate for confirmation; the subcommittee did not take a final confirmation vote. The committee record indicates follow-up on staffing and coordination with federal inspectors may continue as part of oversight.

","A Senate Rules subcommittee voted to advance the reappointment of Chris Heffner to the full Senate, citing his training program, inspection work and a recent rule change creating a deputy inspector to ensure continuity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate panel hears House Bill 15 on strategic healthcare recruitment; committee debate centers on scope, metrics and overlap

Senate panel advances Gina de Blasio to full Senate for confirmation as Health secretary

Senate subcommittee advances Chris Heffner’s reappointment as New Mexico state mine inspector