HB 159

                                1  HOUSE BILL 159
                                2     57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026
                                3  INTRODUCED BY
                                4  Tara L. Lujan and Cynthia Borrego
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                                10  AN ACT
                                11   MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO
                                12   ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM THAT ENABLES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH
                                13   TWELFTH GRADE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ACCESS A NO-COST,
                                14   COMPREHENSIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
                                15   PLATFORM.
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                                17   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
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                                18        SECTION 1.    APPROPRIATION.--
                                19  A.   One million dollars ($1,000,000) is appropriated
                                20   from the general fund to the public education department for
                                21   expenditure in fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to:
                                22  (1)   establish a pilot program that enables
                                23   kindergarten through twelfth grade students and their families
                                24   to access a no-cost, comprehensive and evidence-based mental
                                25   health support platform that offers mental health education,
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                                1    self-management resources and care navigation supports;
                                2  (2)   contract for services to implement the
                                3    pilot program described in Paragraph (1) of this subsection;
                                4    and
                                5  (3)   develop and submit a report that analyzes
                                6    the impact of the pilot program described in Paragraph (1) of
                                7    this subsection to the legislative education study committee.
                                8  B.   Any unexpended balance remaining at the end of
                                9    fiscal year 2028 shall revert to the general fund.
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