Committee backs stipend funding to help behavioral-health and addiction counseling practicums

Representative (presenter) introduced House Bill 347 as an appropriation to support unpaid practicums for behavioral-health and addiction-counseling students. The sponsor said the proposal is “laser focused” on workforce development and public safety by providing stipends during the year-long supervised practicum that students must complete to get licensed.

Marshall Martinez of Equality New Mexico described a statewide mapping project and a coalition effort that identified barriers to licensure, including the unpaid practicum period. He told the committee that many providers reported it can take four to five years from classroom education to licensure, largely because students cannot afford unpaid supervised work. Martinez said the legislature was asked for a $10 million appropriation; subsequent testimony in committee noted $3 million of nonrecurring funding was included in the budget.

Multiple supporting organizations and practitioners testified in favor, including NAMI New Mexico, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, licensed behavioral health professionals, and students who described how unpaid practicums affected their ability to complete training.

Committee members asked whether the funds cover undergraduate as well as graduate students, how the Higher Education Department (HED) would distribute money, and whether supervision costs for host agencies would be addressed. The sponsor and experts said the appropriation is targeted to the practicum period (not classroom tuition), applies to undergraduate and graduate students, and would be distributed by HED to colleges proportionally by student counts; supervision and hosting costs are an implementation issue the sponsor said they plan to address in the interim.

Representative Eleanor Chavez moved a do-pass recommendation and Representative Kate seconded. The committee recorded a do-pass by voice vote.