New Mexico Register / Volume XXXIV, Issue 9 / May 16, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC RULE HEARING AND REGULAR BOARD MEETING

The New Mexico Board of Social Work Examiners will hold a rule hearing on Friday, June 16, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Immediately following the rule hearing, the Board will convene a regular board meeting to consider adoption of the rules and take care of regular business. The hearing and meeting are being held at the Regulation and Licensing Department, located at 2550 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM in Hearing Room 1.

The meeting will also be held via Microsoft Teams for those desiring to attend virtually.

To join the meeting online by Microsoft Teams Meeting, please use the following link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/registration/9GuqBDbUb0K_pAS3pw5g_w,1ELTX1jXpEKRSH1LhFkYvA,aLiKHRozSEGPDTyk8--yBg,D12aLPx6vUibQgcyJsgv_w,8wlwuMzrdUyHArsUHINavQ,KIMmlo7wjUO-HvZUesCAyQ?mode=read&tenantId=04aa6bf4-d436-426f-bfa4-04b7a70e60ff&webinarRing=gcc

Meeting ID: 221 752 526 224

Passcode: coGZiC

Or call in (audio only)

+1 505-312-4308,,221579099#

The purpose of the rule hearing is to receive public comment related to proposed amendments, repealing and/or replacing the following rule that addresses changes to the Social Work Practice Act as amended by House Bill 384 passed during the 2023 legislative session and signed by the Governor, which is effective July 1, 2023:

16.63.18 – Licensure for Military Service Members, Spouses, Dependent Children and Veterans (replace title with Expedited Licensure)

On May 16, 2023, copies of the proposed rule may be obtained by going to the Board’s website at: https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/social-work/sw-rules-and-law/, or by contacting the Board Administrator for the Board at (505) 476-4992.

The Board will begin accepting public comments on the proposed rule beginning May 16, 2023. Please submit written comments on the proposed rules to Ruth Romero, Board Administrator, via electronic mail at: socialworkboard@rld.nm.gov, or by regular mail at P.O. Box 25101, Santa Fe, NM 87504, no later than Friday, June 16, 2023, at 8 a.m. Written comments received prior to the rule hearing will be posted to the RLD website at: https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/social-work/sw-rules-and-law/. Persons in attendance will also be given the opportunity to present their written or oral comments at the public rule hearing.

The agenda for the board meeting will be posted and available at least 72 hours before the meeting on the Board website at: https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/social-work/sw-board-information/sw-board-meetings/. Copies of the rules or the agenda may also be obtained by contacting Ruth Romero, Board Administrator at (505) 476-4992.

An individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing, please contact Ruth Romero, Board Administrator at (505) 476-4992 at least seven (7) days prior to the rule hearing and regular board meeting. Public documents, including the proposed rules, meeting agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats.

Statutory Authority: The Social Work Practice Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 61-31-8, among other provisions, specifically authorizes the Board to “adopt and file, in accordance with the State Rules Act [Chapter 14, Article 4, 1978], rules necessary to carry out the provisions of the Social Work Practice Act, in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Licensing Act”.

Purpose of Proposed Rules: The proposed rule change is intended to address statutory changes to the Social Work Practice Act that were included in House Bill 384, which was passed by the New Mexico Legislature during the 2023 Regular Session. The proposed rule change is also intended to provide great clarity regarding the qualifications and experience required for expedited licensure.

Summary of Proposed Changes: The proposed rule is summarized as follows:

16.63.18 NMAC – Licensure for Military Service Members, Spouses, Dependent Children and Veterans

The proposed rule incorporates language and definitions to address statutory Changes included in House Bill 384 pertaining to expedited licensure. The substantive changes focus primarily on expedited licensure, which include the specific jurisdictions that are approved and disapproved for each license type issued by the Board of Social Work, and modifications to the expedited licensure for military service members, spouses, dependent, and veterans.