KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com | Governor appoints new human services secretary

Governor appoints new human services secretary

Associated Press - November 24, 2009 8:55 AM ET

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Gov. Bill Richardson says he has appointed acting Human Services secretary to head the state Human Services Department.

Richardson says Katie Falls has served as acting human services secretary for the past two months since the departure of former Human Services Secretary Pam Hyde for a federal appointment.

The U.S. Senate on Monday confirmed Hyde as administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Richardson says Falls will be nominated to the New Mexico Senate to head the Human Services Department in January.

The department administers social services, like Medicaid and the food stamps program.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.