2015 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 23 - State Health Institutions
Section 4 New Mexico Veterans' Home
Section 23-4-3 Eligibility for care; standards.

23-4-3. Eligibility for care; standards.

A. Occupancy in the New Mexico state veterans' home and the Fort Bayard medical center veterans' unit shall be for veterans of service in the armed forces of the United States who have served on active duty pursuant to rules adopted by the secretary of health consistent with federal guidelines. To be eligible for admission and continued occupancy, a veteran must be:

(1) a citizen of the United States who enlisted or was drafted, inducted or commissioned in the armed forces of the United States, who was accepted for and assigned to active duty in the armed forces and was not separated from the armed forces under circumstances amounting to a dishonorable discharge from the armed forces; and

(2) a resident of New Mexico at the time of entering or discharge from the armed forces or, in the alternative, a resident of New Mexico at the date of admission.

B. Additionally, no more than twenty-five percent of the occupancy in the New Mexico state veterans' home shall consist of nonveterans from the following categories:

(1) spouses;

(2) surviving spouses; and

(3) gold star parents.

C. Whenever a law, rule or regulation of the veterans' administration of the federal government or any other law permits the state to receive federal funds for the use and benefit of the New Mexico state veterans' home, upon acceptance of a veteran of the armed forces of the United States not meeting the requirements of Subsection A of this section, the board of trustees may adopt rules to authorize such veteran's acceptance.

History: 1953 Comp., 74-7-3, enacted by Laws 1974 (S.S.), ch. 2, 4; 1983, ch. 329, 3; 1986, ch. 103, 2; 1987, ch. 133, 2; 1993, ch. 7, 2; 2001, ch. 40, 2.