The "Office of Child Ombud Act" establishes a new Office of Child Ombud within New Mexico's Children's Code, aimed at overseeing services for children and families, addressing complaints, and safeguarding children's rights. The act provides for the appointment of a State Child Ombud for a six-year term, with a selection committee composed of nine members from legislative chambers and the governor's office responsible for nominating candidates. The office will have the authority to review departmental services, investigate complaints, and produce annual reports on child welfare, while also ensuring transparency through a public web page for data reporting.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws regarding the confidentiality of records related to child neglect or abuse, allowing for the disclosure of such records to the Office of Child Ombud and its staff for the implementation of the act. It clarifies that records can be shared with various parties, including school personnel and healthcare professionals, with the requirement that identifying information be redacted. The legislation also introduces penalties for the unlawful release of confidential information, classifying it as a petty misdemeanor, and allocates $1,000,000 from the general fund to support the office's establishment in fiscal year 2026, with provisions taking effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-2-32, 32A-4-33
Final Version: 32A-2-32, 32A-4-33