A. The board shall establish a diversion program to rehabilitate nurses whose competencies may be impaired because of the abuse of drugs or alcohol so that nurses can be treated and returned to or continue the practice of nursing in a manner that will benefit the public.The intent of the diversion program is to develop a voluntary alternative to traditional disciplinary actions and an alternative to lengthy and costly investigations and administrative proceedings against such nurses, at the same time providing adequate safeguards for the public.

B. The board shall appoint one or more evaluation committees, hereinafter called “regional advisory committees”, each of which shall be composed of members with expertise in chemical dependency. At least one member shall be a registered nurse. No current member of the board shall be appointed to a regional advisory committee. The executive officer of the board or the executive officer’s designee shall be the liaison between each regional advisory committee and the board.

C. Each regional advisory committee shall function under the direction of the board and in accordance with regulations of the board. The regulations shall include directions to a regional advisory committee to:

(1)     establish criteria for continuance in the program;

(2)     develop a written diversion program contract to be approved by the board that sets forth the requirements that shall be met by the nurse and the conditions under which the diversion program may be successfully completed or terminated;

(3)     recommend to the board in favor of or against each nurse’s discharge from the diversion program;

(4)     evaluate each nurse’s progress in recovery and compliance with the nurse’s diversion program contract;

(5)     report violations to the board;

(6)     submit an annual report to the board; and

(7)     coordinate educational programs and research related to chemically dependent nurses.

D. The board may increase the renewal fee for each nurse in the state not to exceed twenty dollars ($20.00) for the purpose of implementing and maintaining the diversion program.

E. Files of nurses in the diversion program shall be maintained in the board office and shall be confidential except as required to be disclosed pursuant to the Nurse Licensure Compact, when used to make a report to the board concerning a nurse who is not cooperating and complying with the diversion program contract or, with written consent of a nurse, when used for research purposes as long as the nurse is not specifically identified. However, the files shall be subject to discovery or subpoena. The confidential provisions of this subsection are of no effect if the nurse admitted to the diversion program leaves the state prior to the completion of the program.

F. A person making a report to the board or to a regional advisory committee regarding a nurse suspected of practicing nursing while habitually intemperate or addicted to the use of habit-forming drugs or making a report of a nurse’s progress or lack of progress in rehabilitation shall be immune from civil action for defamation or other cause of action resulting from such reports if the reports are made in good faith and with some reasonable basis in fact.

G. A person admitted to the diversion program for chemically dependent nurses who fails to comply with the provisions of this section or with the rules and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to this section or with the written diversion program contract or with any amendments to the written diversion program contract may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Section 61-3-28 N.M. Stat. Ann..