A. The "board of certification of community health workers" is created. The board is administratively attached to the department and shall meet at least once quarterly at the call of the chair.

B. The board shall consist of nine members who shall be:

(1) residents of the state;

(2) appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the secretary; and

(3) composed of:

(a) the secretary or the secretary's designee, who shall serve as chair of the board; and

(b) eight additional members, at least three of whom shall be community health workers.

C. In determining the membership of the board, the secretary shall endeavor to appoint community health worker stakeholders such as health care providers, individuals from institutions of higher learning and members of the community from various geographic regions of the state.

D. The secretary shall adopt and promulgate rules that establish the board's membership, duties and the conduct of meetings. At a minimum, the board's duties shall include making recommendations to the secretary on the following matters:

(1) standards and requirements for the establishment of community health worker education and training programs in the state, the successful completion of which shall qualify an individual as eligible to apply to the department for certification as a certified community health worker;

(2) standards and requirements for approval or acceptance of continuing education courses and programs as the board may require for the biennial renewal of a community health worker certificate;

(3) minimum education, training, experience and other qualifications that a certified community health worker shall possess to qualify as a trainer in any education, training or continuing education program for community health workers;

(4) a means to acknowledge, document and assess relevant education, training and experience or other qualifications acquired by community health workers practicing in the state before the effective date of the Community Health Workers Act for purposes of certification while waiving minimum training and experience requirements established pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of Section 3 [24-30-3 NMSA 1978] of the Community Health Workers Act; and

(5) the type of certification examination or other means to assess community health worker competency in connection with certification that the department shall require if the secretary determines that a certification examination would enhance the advancement of the practice and profession of community health workers.

History: Laws 2014, ch. 49, § 4.

Effective dates. — Laws 2014, ch. 49 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective May 21, 2014, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.