The bill expands the definition of "youthful offender" to include voluntary manslaughter, thereby broadening the range of offenses that can categorize a child as such. It also extends the supervised release period from juvenile facilities and introduces provisions for issuing warrants and tolling the time of supervised release for delinquent children who abscond. The "Juvenile Community Corrections Act" is renamed to the "Juvenile Community Connections Act," reflecting a shift towards a more supportive framework for juvenile offenders. Additionally, the bill establishes a local panel to determine next steps for delinquent children and creates a three-year pilot project for a monetary stipend aimed at improving outcomes for former foster or delinquent children.

Moreover, the bill amends various sections of the New Mexico statutes related to juvenile justice, focusing on the establishment of the "juvenile community connections grant fund." It introduces key definitions and emphasizes the fund's purpose to provide grants for community programs that divert delinquent children from the juvenile justice system. The application process for grants prioritizes programs addressing violence, substance abuse, and education, while establishing a local panel system for screening delinquents. The bill also amends the Governmental Immunity Act to redefine terms and expand the definition of "immune contractor," particularly for licensed foster parents. Lastly, it establishes a pilot project for monetary stipends to assist eligible young adults, with the higher education department overseeing its administration and reporting outcomes to the legislative committee.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 33-9A-1, 33-9A-2, 33-9A-3, 33-9A-4, 33-9A-5, 41-4-3, 41-13-2
JC substitute: 32A-2-3, 32A-2-19, 32A-2-25, 33-9A-1, 33-9A-2, 33-9A-3, 33-9A-4, 33-9A-5, 33-9A-6, 41-4-3, 41-13-2