There is created the "retiree health care authority", which is established to provide for comprehensive group health insurance programs under the Retiree Health Care Act.
History: Laws 1990, ch. 6, § 5; 2002, ch. 75, § 1; 2002, ch. 80, § 1; 2021, ch. 23, § 2.
The 2021 amendment, effective July 1, 2021, simplified the description of the retiree health care authority, removed outdated provisions related to the retiree health care authority, and removed a provision requiring the retiree health care authority to administer the senior prescription drug plan; deleted "The authority shall be administratively attached to the public school insurance authority until December 31, 1993. The director of the public school insurance authority shall be the executive director of the retiree health care authority until December 31, 1993. The board created by Section 10-7C-6 NMSA 1978 shall remain fully independent of the board of the public school insurance authority."; and deleted former Subsection B, which required the retiree health care authority to administer the senior prescription drug program.
The 2002 amendment, effective May 15, 2002, added Subsection B.
Laws 2002, ch. 75, § 1 and Laws 2002, ch. 80, § 1, both effective May 15, 2002, enacted identical amendments to this section. The section was set out as amended by Laws 2002, ch. 80, § 1. See 12-1-8 NMSA 1978.
State agency. — The retiree health care authority is a state agency and thus is subject to the various regulatory provisions that apply to state agencies absent express statutory exemptions. 1991 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 91-06.
Records retention. — As a state agency, the retiree health care authority is subject to record retention regulations adopted by the state commission of public records pursuant to 14-3-4 NMSA 1978. 1991 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 91-06.
State Rules Act. — Retiree health care authority (RHCA) is not excluded from the State Rules Act (Sections 14-4-1 to 14-4-9 NMSA 1978); therefore, the RHCA must file its rules with the Records Center. 1991 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 91-06.
Information systems. — Retiree health care authority (RHCA) is not excluded from the provisions of the Information Systems Act [now repealed]. Therefore, the RHCA's purchases of computer software and hardware and its information systems plan are subject to approval by the Information Systems Council. 1991 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 91-06.
Contracts of authority. — The retiree health care authority is a state agency and the professional service contracts it enters into are therefore governed by Section 13-1-118 NMSA 1978. 1991 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 91-06.
Leasing provisions. — Retiree health care authority is subject to leasing regulations of the property control division of the general services department in accordance with the property control director's obligation to "control the lease or rental of space in private buildings by state executive agencies other than the state land office." 1991 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 91-06.
Structure 2021 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 10 - Public Officers and Employees
Article 7C - Retiree Health Care
Section 10-7C-1 - Short title.
Section 10-7C-2 - Purpose of act.
Section 10-7C-3 - Legislative findings and declaration of policy.
Section 10-7C-4 - Definitions.
Section 10-7C-5 - Authority created.
Section 10-7C-6 - Board created; membership; authority.
Section 10-7C-7 - Board; duties.
Section 10-7C-7.2 - New Mexico finance authority revenue bonds; purpose; appropriation.
Section 10-7C-8 - Fund created; investment; premiums; appropriation.
Section 10-7C-9 - Participation.
Section 10-7C-10 - Expulsion from program for falsification.
Section 10-7C-11 - Purchase of group insurance.
Section 10-7C-12 - Automatic coverage; effect of preexisting conditions.
Section 10-7C-13 - Payment of premiums on health care plans.
Section 10-7C-14 - Exemption from legal process.
Section 10-7C-15 - Retiree health care fund contributions.