Latest news with #HouseBill131
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio lawmakers seek to put an end to police quotas
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio lawmakers are working to ban police quotas. 'Our law enforcement officers should not be used as revenue generators,' Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark) said. 'That's rule number one.' 'Ohio has become synonymous with high police ticket quotas,' Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) said. New development denied at site of Pickaway County farmland Miller and Sweeny are behind House Bill 131; Senate Bill 114 is identical and both would prohibit law enforcement agencies from using citation quotas. 'They're out there to protect the public and they shouldn't be given some arbitrary number of citations that have no correlation to public safety,' Miller said. Miller formerly worked for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, where the union prohibits the use of quotas for that agency already. He said given that fact, no other police department should have an issue with a ban. 'If our Ohio State Highway Patrol, who is arguably the most proactive law enforcement agency in the state, can operate under a system that prohibits quotas, there's no reason other agencies can't do the same,' Miller said. Ohio University closing diversity offices, women and pride centers 'This is by no means to demonize anyone; there are real struggles to fill budget holes,' Sweeney said. 'It just should not be on the backs of Ohioans.' The bill passed a House committee during the last general assembly with no votes against it. The Senate bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee also with no votes against it on April 17. The legislation also creates an anonymous reporting system for officers to use if leaders are still requiring quotas or using them for things like promotions or evaluations. So far, between last year and this year, only one opponent has testified. That is Mike Crispen, president of the Central Ohio Chiefs Association. He was not available for an interview on Tuesday, but in a March post on his organization's website, he said the definition of quota is too broad in the bill and said it will lead to less accountability within departments. UPS to cut 20K jobs, close some facilities as it reduces amount of Amazon shipments 'And all of this sends the wrong message, especially now,' Crispen's statement said. 'When crime is rising and repeat offenders are cycling through the system, the last thing Ohio needs is a law that makes it harder for officers to act — or harder for supervisors to expect action.' Crispen said the memo outlines the organization's official position on the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Mexico toughens requirements to become a caregiver
Rep. Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson (D-Albuquerque) is co-sponsoring a bill to tighten background checks for caregivers in New Mexico. (Photo by Leah Romero / Source NM) People interested in becoming a caregiver for older adults or people with disabilities in New Mexico will face more strict requirements under a new state law but now have a way of appealing if they get rejected. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 7 signed House Bill 131, which enhances background check requirements for caregivers, expanding the list of disqualifying criminal offenses. At the same time, HB 131 creates an easier pathway for those who qualify for the job, which sponsors hope will help expand the workforce. Starting July 1, anyone convicted of battery of a household member, animal cruelty, identity theft, human trafficking or assault of a peace officer can be found to pose an 'unreasonable risk' as a caregiver. The new law also allows the Health Care Authority to write rules to add more crimes to the list. The law already prohibited someone from becoming a caregiver if they had been convicted of homicide; drug trafficking; kidnapping; rape or other sexual offenses; abuse of adults or children; robbery; larceny; burglary; fraud; financial exploitation or embezzlement. 'This law reflects our commitment to protecting the safety and dignity of the New Mexicans who rely on caregiving services,' New Mexico Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo said in a statement. 'By strengthening background checks, we are creating safer environments for vulnerable individuals and providing families with greater peace of mind.' Two of the bill's co-sponsors in the Legislature told Source NM it is intended to decrease how long it takes to appeal a background check finding, and make the appeals process more effective, after providers gave feedback about it taking too long, which led to applicants giving up and working elsewhere like in the service industry. Co-sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Thomson (D-Albuquerque), chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, told Source NM that the bill will help people with disabilities because more people will be able to apply for jobs to care for them. She said there is very high staff turnover at groups homes, nursing homes and other care facilities, and it's difficult to find replacements because caregiving is a demanding job that pays very little. 'These jobs have a lot of responsibility, I mean, this is someone's mother, or grandmother or son that you're taking care of,' Thomson said. 'It can be a very stressful, very physically challenging job, and sometimes downright scary.' For example, Thomson said she sees new staff working at the group home that houses her own son who is very tall, strong and has severe autism that can result in him engaging in difficult behaviors like smearing his own feces on the walls, ceilings and his own clothing. Co-sponsor Rep. Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho) told Source NM the bill fits into the legislative session's broader focus on public safety by protecting the most vulnerable people, including those with disabilities. Cates said the Health Care Authority's Division of Health Improvement asked her to carry the bill. The division runs the state's caregiver background check registry. 'These direct care providers are extraordinarily important in our community, especially now as our community is aging at a higher ratio, and we do not pay them a professional wage,' Cates said. HB131 does not impact caregivers' pay, but Cates and Thomson say they want to pursue future pieces of legislation to raise their compensation. In 2023, they co-sponsored a law that requires the state to conduct a cost study every two years for caregivers for people with developmental disabilities. But as soon as the study's findings are implemented, the pay rates are already two years behind inflation, Thomson said. 'Even before I started as a representative, I was an advocate for people with disabilities and even back then in the 1990s, we were saying, 'You're not paying these people enough,'' Thomson said. 'I don't know what the magic number is; I haven't found it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NM Aging agency announces forums on dementia-related illnesses
A senior woman being assisted to walk using a walker by caregiver at park. (Stock photo by Thianchai Sitthikongsak via Getty Images) The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department will host three community forums throughout the state over the next three months to hear about experiences with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related illnesses and connect people with available services. The free forums, jointly produced by the aging department and the Alzheimer's Association, will be held in Silver City, Clayton and Tucumcari. 'No one should have to face Alzheimer's alone,' Emily Kaltenbach, secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, said in a statement. 'Whether they are caregiving for a loved one or facing a diagnosis themselves, we hope that we can start to break the silence around Alzheimer's, promote early detection, and ensure that everyone has the resources they need.' Silver City March 26, 3 to 5 p.m. Silver City Public Library, 515 W. College Avenue Clayton April 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Clayton Civic Center, 124 N. Front Street Tucumcari May 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tucumcari Convention Center, 1500 U.S. Route 66 RSVP to the forums by calling 505-404-9857. According to an ALTSD news release, organizers encourage attendees to share their stories of living with dementia, caring for someone with dementia, voice concern and ask about available services. Joey Long, aging department spokesperson, told Source NM an Alzheimer's Association's representative will be on hand at all three forums, as well as staff from the department's Consumer and Elder Rights Division, who will provide information about Medicare and Medicaid options, home-delivered meals, prescription drug assistance, caregiver assistance and legal service options. Kaltenbach will attend the Silver City and Clayton forums, while Deputy Secretary Antoinette Vigil will attend the Tucumcari event. During the recently completed legislative session, lawmakers passed several bills that will impact seniors in the state, including House Bill 131, which would tighten background checks for potential caregivers; and House Memorial 53, which requests more research be done on Alzheimer's disease, clinical trials and early detection, and asks the Aging and Long-Term Services Department and the Department of Health to work together in disseminating information to New Mexicans. Both passed and HB131 awaits a signature from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmakers move caregiver disqualifications bill forward
Mar. 12—Lawmakers are advancing legislation to the House floor that strengthens background checks for people seeking to become caregivers. House Bill 131, Caregiver Background Checks, hopes to reduce the rate of abuse, neglect and exploitation of the elderly, which has risen significantly in the last four years, according to the state Health Care Authority. "This bill, basically, puts some more (crimes) that can be disqualifying in terms of caregivers," Rep. Liz Thomson, the legislation's sponsor, told the House Judiciary Committee on Monday. If passed, people convicted of aggravated battery of a household member, human trafficking, assault of a peace officer, identity theft, and animal cruelty would fail background checks and be unable to become caregivers. It adds to a list of other criminal convictions that disqualify applicants. According to the HCA, there has been a 117% increase in abuse, neglect and exploitation cases among people receiving Developmental Disabilities Waiver services and a 76% increase at hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities from 2020 to 2024. The HCA said New Mexico also has a less extensive list of disqualifying crimes compared to other U.S. states. This bill would bring the state more in line with other states, including Mississippi and Nevada, the HCA said. The House Judiciary Committee moved Thomson's bill forward with a 9-0 vote late Monday. There was little opposition to the bill. One person expressed concern about a lack of oversight in transferring responsibility from the state Department of Health to the HCA. Others raised concerns that the bill would reduce the number of applicants amid a health care provider shortage, something the HCA argues is unlikely. Thomson, an Albuquerque Democrat, told the Journal she was unsure when the bill would get a hearing but said it was a critical piece of legislation. The session is set to wrap up on March 22.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health Care Authority issues emergency rule amid elder abuse spike, legislative reform
Mar. 10—The New Mexico Health Care Authority has issued a new rule meant to curb elder abuse amid rising rates of mistreatment. The rule allows the state agency to place people with an instance of a substantiated case of abuse, neglect and exploitation on an employee abuse registry. People on the list are barred from continuing as caregivers. The move — combined with a bill moving through the New Mexico Legislature — is a step toward suppressing rising cases of elder abuse, according to Dan Lanari, director of the Health Care Authority's Division of Health Improvement. "We see an increase, and then immediately what we have to do is we have to look at, what are the regulations that oversee this," Lanari told the Journal. "What are the regulations in place to prevent this from happening?" A 2023 annual report from Adult Protective Services, or APS, chronicled 12,560 reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation in the state. The 2024 annual report noted that APS received 14,368 reports, a 4.4% increase. The report attributed the rise to the "growing awareness of adult maltreatment and as well as the continued trust placed in our agency to protect vulnerable adults." But over four years, the problem has worsened. At a February hearing of the legislative House Health and Human Services Committee, Lanari testified that, between 2020 and 2024, there had been a 117% increase in abuse, neglect and exploitation cases among people receiving Developmental Disabilities Waiver services and a 76% increase at hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Lanari said there are two ways to impact this: the rule change HCA approved and legislative reform. House Bill 131, Caregiver Background Checks, would strengthen the review process for those seeking to be caregivers. People convicted of certain felony crimes — including aggravated battery of a household member, sex trafficking, assault of a peace officer, identity theft and animal cruelty — would be unable to become caregivers in the first place. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Liz Thomson, D-Albuquerque, would bring New Mexico, which has significantly fewer disqualifying convictions, into line with other states. Thomson was unavailable for an interview. One HCA analysis submitted to the legislature said many states, including Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma and Georgia, have as much as 10 times more disqualifying convictions than New Mexico. "To protect the safety of individuals receiving healthcare is imperative, and that's why we're doing this," Lanari said. "However, we're also doing this very thoughtfully, and we don't want to have a negative impact on the workforce pool." Lanari pointed out that there is a procedure for people on the list to appeal the decision, and the Authority's data showed that about half of the 340 appeals in 2024 were granted. That's compared to the 53,000 applications submitted that same year. The bill passed through the House Health and Human Services Committee in February and was scheduled for a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Monday.
