Garcia v. Health & Social Services Department

OPINION LOPEZ, Judge. These consolidated cases appeal decisions and orders of the director of the New Mexico Health and Social Services Department (HSSD) terminating general assistance (GA) after six months of benefit payments. We reverse. New Mexico has a comprehensive scheme of public assistance known as the Public Assistance Act. See § 13-17-1, N. M.S.A. 1953 (Repl.Vol. 3, Supp.1973), for enumeration of subchapters and sections. This act provides, among other things, for assistance to needy, disabled persons, whether that disability is permanent or temporary. Aid to the permanently disabled was initially provided under § 13-17-7, supra. Aid to the permanently disabled was taken over in January 1974, by the federal program known as Supplemental Security Income for Aged, Blind and Disabled (SSI). See 42 U.S.C.A. §§ 1381 to 1383. The federal statute defines a permanent disability as one which lasts not less than twelve months. 42 U.S.C.A. § 1382c(a) (3) (A). Those temporarily disabled persons who are also needy qualify for GA under § 13-17-10, supra. There is no question in either of these appeals that the petitioners are temporarily disabled and needy. The combined effect of sections 13-17-7 and 13-17-10, supra, and SSI would seem to be to create at least some provision for all needy, disabled people in New Mexico. But HSSD has, by regulation, provided that “ . . . [i]n cases of temporarily disabled needy persons . . . cash assistance will be limited to a period of no more than six months in any twelve (12) month period.” HSSD Regulation No. 240.2. This restriction of assistance has the effect of creating a “gap”, a six month period in which a needy, disabled person may not receive any cash assistance under any available program. See, § 13 — 17— 11(A), supra. One whose disability lasts more than six months, but less than a year, is not eligible for assistance under either SSI or GA. The problem for this court is to see by what authority HSSD may regulate such a “gap” between coverage under SSI and benefits under GA. HSSD argues that it has appropriate regulatory authority under either § 13-17-5 or § 13-17-10, supra. The department does not have unlimited rule-making powers, however. An administrative body being a creature of statute, has only such power and authority as are granted to it by statute. New Mexico Elec. Serv. Co. v. New Mexico Pub. S. Com’n, 81 N.M. 683, 472 P.2d 648 (1970); Vermejo Club v. French, 43 N.M. 45, 85 P.2d 90 (1938); Maxwell Land Grant Co. v. Jones, 28 N.M. 427, 213 P. 1034 (1923). Section 13-17-10, supra, provides in pertinent part : “A. Subject to the availability of state funds, public assistance shall be provided under a general assistance program to or on behalf of eligible persons who: “(2) are over the age of eighteen [18] and are temporarily disabled, according to regulations of the board, and are not receiving aid to families with dependent children; . . . “B. . . . The board may by regulation limit the grants that are made to general assistance recipients.” There is no question, under subpara-graph (A) (2) that the board could have defined “temporarily disabled” by reasonable regulations. It is not contended that the six month restriction is an attempt by the board to define this term. The board does argue, rather, that HSSD Regulation No. 240.2 is a reasonable attempt to limit grants under subpara-graph (B), for the purpose of efficiently utilizing available state funds pursuant to subparagraph (A). Section 13-17-5, supra, deals with the realities of limited state funds by providing: “A. . . . However, if the amount of federal and state funds available for public assistance is insufficient to provide the grants for all eligible persons, the amount of grants to eligible persons may be reduced as necessary. “B. The board may set individual and family maximum grant levels for each program.” The Public Assistance Act must be read as a whole and each part considered in relation to every other part to produce a harmonious whole. Trujillo v. Romero, 82 N.M. 301, 481 P.2d 89 (1971). This court will construe statutory language with a view to determining legislative intent. State v. McHorse, 85 N.M. 753, 517 P.2d 75 (Ct.App.1973). But where there is no ambiguity in the language of the statutes, taken as a whole, judicial construction is unnecessary. Till v. Jones, 83 N.M. 743, 497 P.2d 745 (Ct.App.1972). The legislature has provided a clear answer to HSSD’s problem of how to deal with limited funds. It has told the department in exactly which ways HSSD may “limit” funds: by reducing grants under § 13-17-5(A), supra; and by setting maximum grant levels under § 13 — 17—5 (33), supra.. Nowhere in the Act does it appear that HSSD is empowered to otherwise limit the payment of GA benefits. HSSD “ . . . is confined to the procedure thus prescribed, and a failure to conform thereto or any substantial departure therefrom vitiates its action. . . . ” Maxwell Land Grant Co. v. Jones, supra. The meaning is clear and unambiguous, and need not be interpreted by this court. State v. McHorse, supra; Till v. Jones, supra. Public assistance programs should be based on an assessment of the risks that are most prevalent in society. It is the mark of a successful society to be able to protect its citizens against the risks of illness, old age, disability, unemployment, birth, death, large families, and other economic pitfalls of life. New Mexico has attempted to set up a comprehensive program designed to shift the burden of these risks to society as a whole, rather than to the individual. General assistance is to be provided to needy persons who are, for some reason, ineligible for aid under any other assistance program. In providing GA to those whose needs could not otherwise be met, the Public Assistance Act mandates that those needs, somehow, be met. See, State ex rel. Johnson v. Hernandez, 83 N. M. 589, 495 P.2d 369 (1972); see also § '13-17-10(A), supra. HSSD Regulation No. 240.2 is in conflict with the clear language of § 13-17-5, supra, and is not authorized by any section of the Public Assistance Act. Accordingly, the decisions of the director in both of these cases are not in accordance with law. Section 13-18-4(F) (3), N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 3, Supp.1973). The decisions and orders of the director of HSSD are hereby set aside with instructions to continue petitioners on the GA program for the extent of their disability or up to twelve (12) total months, whichever is shorter. It is so ordered. SUTIN, J., concur. HERNANDEZ, J., dissents.