The bill establishes a Secretary of Children, Youth and Families Nominating Committee responsible for providing a list of qualified nominees for the Secretary position, who will be appointed by the governor with Senate consent. It transfers rulemaking authority for the Plan of Safe Care process from the Children, Youth and Families Department to the Health Care Authority and mandates the implementation of a multilevel response system statewide. The bill also enacts the Families First Act within the Children's Code, requiring the development of a strategic plan for foster care prevention services that aligns with federal requirements.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 32A-3A-13 of the New Mexico Statutes to establish a "plan of safe care" for newborns affected by prenatal drug exposure or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, outlining guidelines for hospitals and medical providers. It introduces a notification process for noncompliance with the plan of safe care, clarifying that such notifications do not constitute reports of child abuse or neglect. The bill also enhances oversight of children in substitute care by replacing local review boards with a staff member from the substitute care advisory council and establishing new administrative structures and volunteer participation rules. Key provisions include the requirement for background checks and training for volunteer members, as well as a timeline for the rollout of services and compliance with federal regulations.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 9-2A-3, 9-2A-6, 9-2A-8, 32A-1-4, 32A-3A-13, 32A-3A-14, 32A-4-3, 32A-4-4.1, 32A-4-21, 32A-4-33, 32A-8-2, 32A-8-4
JC substitute: 9-2A-3, 9-2A-6, 9-2A-8, 32A-1-4, 32A-3A-13, 32A-3A-14, 32A-4-3, 32A-4-4.1, 32A-4-21, 32A-4-33, 32A-8-2, 32A-8-4