There is a newer version of the New Mexico Statutes
2013 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 24 - Health and Safety
Article 1 - Public Health
Section 24-1-3 - Powers and authority of department. (2001)
NM Stat § 24-1-3 (2013) What's This?
24-1-3. Powers and authority of department. (2001)
The department has authority to:
A. receive such grants, subsidies, donations, allotments or bequests as may be offered to the state by the federal government or any department thereof or by any public or private foundation or individuals;
B. supervise the health and hygiene of the people of the state;
C. investigate, control and abate the causes of disease, especially epidemics, sources of mortality and other conditions of public health;
D. establish, maintain and enforce isolation and quarantine;
E. close any public place and forbid gatherings of people when necessary for the protection of the public health;
F. establish programs and adopt rules to prevent infant mortality, birth defects and morbidity;
G. prescribe the duties of public health nurses and school nurses;
H. provide educational programs and disseminate information on public health;
I. maintain and enforce rules for the licensure of health facilities;
J. bring action in court for the enforcement of health laws and rules and orders issued by the department;
K. enter into agreements with other states to carry out the powers and duties of the department;
L. cooperate and enter into contracts or agreements with the federal government or any other person to carry out the powers and duties of the department;
M. maintain and enforce rules for the control of communicable diseases deemed to be dangerous to public health;
N. maintain and enforce rules for immunization against diseases deemed to be dangerous to the public health;
O. maintain and enforce such rules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the Public Health Act and to publish the rules;
P. supervise state public health activities, operate a dental public health program and operate state laboratories for the investigation of public health matters;
Q. sue and, with the consent of the legislature, be sued;
R. regulate the practice of midwifery;
S. administer legislation enacted pursuant to Title VI of the Public Health Service Act, as amended and supplemented;
T. inspect such premises or vehicles as necessary to ascertain the existence or nonexistence of conditions dangerous to public health or safety;
U. request and inspect, while maintaining federal and state confidentiality requirements, copies of:
(1) medical and clinical records reasonably required for the department's quality assurance and quality improvement activities; and
(2) all medical and clinical records pertaining to the individual whose death is the subject of inquiry by the department's mortality review activities; and
V. do all other things necessary to carry out its duties.
History: 1953 Comp., § 12-34-3, enacted by Laws 1973, ch. 359, § 3; 1975, ch. 183, § 2; 2001, ch. 119, § 2.
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