Section 3. Statutory Authority

The food stamp program is authorized by the Food Stamp Act of 1977 as amended (7 U.S.C. 2011 et. seq.). Regulations issued pursuant to the act are contained in 7 CFR Parts 270- 282. State authority for administering the food stamp program is contained in Chapter 27 NMSA, 1978. Administration of the health care authority (HCA), including its authority to promulgate regulations, is governed by Chapter 9, Article 8, NMSA 1978 (Repl. 1983). Section 9-8-1 et seq. NMSA 1978 establishes the HCA as a single, unified department to administer laws and exercise functions relating to health care facility licensure and health care purchasing and regulation.