HB 124

1AN ACT
2  RELATING TO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS; CREATING THE NEW AMERICANS
3  DIVISION IN THE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT; PROVIDING
4  DIVISION DUTIES; REQUIRING REPORTS; REQUIRING A STUDY AND
5  REPORT ON THE WORK, ECONOMIC IMPACT AND STRUCTURE OF REFUGEE
6  RESETTLEMENT IN NEW MEXICO.
7
8  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
9SECTION 1.     Section 9-26-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007,
10 Chapter 200, Section 3) is amended to read:
11      "9-26-3.     DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Workforce
12 Solutions Department Act:
13A.    "department" means the workforce solutions
14 department;
15B.    "new Americans" means people residing in the
16 United States who are not citizens of the United States or
17 who were not citizens of the United States at birth; and
18C.    "secretary" means the secretary of workforce
19 solutions."
20      SECTION 2.     Section 9-26-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007,
21 Chapter 200, Section 4) is amended to read:
22      "9-26-4.     WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT CREATED.--The
23 "workforce solutions department" is created in the executive
24 branch pursuant to the Executive Reorganization Act.       The
25 department is a cabinet department that includes:  HB 124
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1A.   the office of the secretary;
2B.   the administrative services division;
3C.   the unemployment insurance division;
4D.   the labor relations division;
5E.   the workforce technology division;
6F.   the workforce transition services division; and
7G.   the new Americans division."
8SECTION 3.    A new section of the Workforce Solutions
9  Department Act is enacted to read:
10      "NEW AMERICANS DIVISION--PURPOSE--DUTIES.--
11A.   The purpose of the new Americans division of
12 the department is to support new Americans residing in New
13 Mexico in achieving their maximum economic potential in New
14 Mexico's workforce and as entrepreneurs.    In furtherance of
15 this purpose, the division shall:
16(1)   support and expand educational,
17 workforce training and other initiatives that improve the
18 integration of new Americans into the state's economy;
19(2)   identify strategies for improving
20 licensure pathways for new Americans who have been
21 professionally trained or licensed in another country;
22(3)   assist businesses that employ new
23 Americans by identifying, attracting and retaining top global
24 talent required to remain competitive in a global economy;
25(4)   identify and support pathways for new    HB 124
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1  Americans to advance priority sectors identified in the
2  state's workforce development and economic development plans;
3  and
4(5)   serve as an information center by
5  providing resources and engagement opportunities to
6  businesses, community-based organizations, workers, community
7  members, state agencies and local governments on policies and
8  legislation affecting new Americans, including supporting
9  eligible lawful permanent residents in becoming naturalized
10 United States citizens.
11B.   The new Americans division shall, as deemed
12 necessary and appropriate by the department, work with other
13 divisions within the department, the economic development
14 department, the higher education department, the public
15 education department, the department of health, the health
16 care authority, the homeland security and emergency
17 management department, the department of public safety or the
18 regulation and licensing department to fulfill the duties of
19 the new Americans division.
20C.   By August 1, 2027, and by July 1 of each year
21 thereafter, the new Americans division shall provide a report
22 to an interim committee that studies economic and rural
23 development and policy, the secretary, the governor and
24 members of the legislature on the activities of the division
25 in the preceding twelve months, including an analysis of the    HB 124
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1  economic impact, status, population and workforce numbers of
2  new Americans in the state."
3SECTION 4.   TEMPORARY PROVISION--STATE REFUGEE
4  RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM--STUDY--REPORT.--
5A.   The new Americans division of the workforce
6  solutions department shall study, evaluate and prepare a
7  report on the work, economic impact and structure of refugee
8  resettlement in New Mexico.    As deemed necessary and
9  appropriate, the division director shall consult with
10 stakeholders, including representatives of the health care
11 authority, the economic development department and community-
12 based organizations.
13B.   The division shall report its findings to the
14 interim committee that studies economic and rural development
15 and policy by December 1, 2026.  HB 124
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