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 the rights of children in custody. The act creates the position of State Child Ombud, appointed for a six-year term, and establishes a State Child Ombud Selection Committee to ensure a diverse and qualified candidate pool. The office is granted powers to investigate complaints, review departmental policies, and compile annual reports, while maintaining confidentiality and autonomy over its budget. The act also integrates the Indian Family Protection Act with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act to strengthen child welfare laws in New Mexico.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws concerning 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 identifying information redacted. The legislation imposes penalties for the unlawful release of confidential information, categorizing 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