2011 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 24: Health and Safety
Article 2C: Harm Reduction, 24-2C-1 through 24-2C-6
Section 24-2C-4: Program created; department responsibilities.

24-2C-4. Program created; department responsibilities.

A. The department shall:

(1) establish and administer a harm reduction program for the purpose of sterile hypodermic syringe and needle exchange;

(2) compile data to assist in planning and evaluating efforts to combat the spread of blood-borne diseases; and

(3) make an annual report, including legislative recommendations, to the legislative health and human services committee by October 1 each year.

B. Within thirty days of the effective date of the Harm Reduction Act [24-2C-1 NMSA 1978], the department shall appoint an advisory committee, to include representation from:

(1) the office of the attorney general;

(2) the New Mexico state police division of the department of public safety;

(3) the human immunodeficiency virus sexually transmitted disease bureau of the department;

(4) the director of the epidemiology division of the department or his designee;

(5) a medical officer of the public health division of the department; and

(6) other persons or representatives as chosen by the secretary of health to ensure a thorough and unbiased evaluation of the program established under the Harm Reduction Act.

C. The advisory committee shall:

(1) develop policies and procedures for evaluation of the harm reduction program;

(2) develop criteria for data collection and program evaluation; and

(3) meet as necessary to analyze data and monitor and produce a report on the harm reduction program.

D. The department may contract with private providers to operate the program.