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Officials outline rollout of Senate Bill 3 regional behavioral-health plans, early-access grants for crisis services
Summary
AOC and the Health Care Authority told the Appropriations & Finance Committee that all 13 regional accountable entities have been identified and that early-access grants (up to $2 million per region) received proposals from all 13 regions; the agencies are finalizing a funding formula and expect regional plans for review by the behavioral health executive committee.
Esperanza Lucero, Behavioral Health Integration and Reform Administrator with the Administrative Office of the Courts, told the committee the sequential intercept mapping (eSIM) workshops and regional planning required under Senate Bill 3 are well under way and that accountable entities have been designated in all 13 regions.
"We have all 13 accountable entities identified," Lucero said, adding that the AOC selected judicial-district-based regions as the best balance between macro and local planning. She described enhancements to the eSIM framework—including a new emphasis on prevention and a ‘pre-intercept’ stage—and said most workshops draw roughly 75–85 participants.
Christie Brooks, director of behavioral health transformation and innovation at the Health Care Authority, said the administration is finalizing a funding formula to allocate the roughly $155 million in regional-plan funds approved in last year’s budget bill. Brooks said the formula — which accounts for population, landmass, substance-use disparities and tribal needs — will go to the behavioral health executive committee for approval next week.
Brooks cautioned that distribution timing matters: about $50 million of the $155 million “is actually set to expire at the end of fiscal year 27,” and the agencies want to push funds into communities promptly while ensuring plans are sustainable.
To bridge early needs while regional plans are being completed, HCA issued a notice of funding opportunity for early-access funds targeted at critical access shortages (residential treatment, crisis continuum, medication‑assisted treatment for justice‑involved people, prenatal/perinatal SUD treatment). "We put out a notice of funding opportunity for up to $2,000,000 per region," Brooks said; she reported 13 submissions and a total of 28 requested projects across the regions.
Lawmakers pressed officials on the draft funding formula and equity concerns. The chair and other members asked why some districts with strong existing capacity appeared to receive relatively less in the draft allocations; Brooks said the draft reflects public‑comment inputs and data work with UNM, Indian Health Service and federal partners and that the agencies remain open to adjustments before the executive committee vote.
Committee members also asked about tribal consultation and language access. Lucero said the AOC held formal tribal consultation on Dec. 2 and has sent tribal briefing letters; she said about a dozen nations, Pueblos and tribes participated in person or virtually and that some listening sessions include Spanish and Dene interpretation.
What happens next: AOC will continue eSIM workshops and listening sessions across the state, UNM will finish wrap‑up reports for completed workshops, and the behavioral health executive committee will review regional plans and the funding formula. Early‑access awards will be transmitted to the committee for approval and announced in the coming weeks.
