The commission shall design, establish and administer a program for providing specialized telecommunications equipment to impaired individuals. The commission shall adopt regulations for the program that:

A. shall include eligibility requirements for participation in the program, which requirements:

(1) shall provide financial eligibility conditions; and

(2) shall include provisions for determining eligibility thresholds based on:

(a) the quality and severity of the individual's impairment;

(b) the availability of current telecommunications services at the individual's place of residence;

(c) New Mexico residency; and

(d) minimum age;

B. establish detailed procedures and forms to be used by impaired individuals wishing to apply for participation in the program;

C. establish minimum training requirements for all applicants receiving telecommunications equipment regarding etiquette and use of telecommunications equipment;

D. include a statewide survey and information gathering component to identify the extent of the hearing and speech impairment problem in the state, the number of impaired individuals in the state and the existence and availability of any specialized telecommunications equipment; and

E. include an outreach component designed to provide information about and facilitate access to the program for impaired individuals.

History: Laws 1993, ch. 54, § 4; 1995, ch. 39, § 1.

The 1995 amendment, effective June 16, 1995, deleted former Paragraph A(2), which read "may include provisions for participation by impaired individuals in the cost of acquiring specialized telecommunications equipment"; designated former Paragraph A(3) as Paragraph A(2); inserted the subparagraph designation (a) in Paragraph A(2) and added Subparagraphs A(2)(b) through A(2)(d); added Subsection C; and redesignated former Subsections C and D as Subsections D and E.