The proposed "Office of Child Ombud Act" establishes the 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 bill creates the position of State Child Ombud, appointed for a six-year term, and forms a State Child Ombud Selection Committee composed of nine members from both legislative chambers and the governor's office. The office will have the authority to review departmental services, investigate complaints, and produce annual reports on child welfare, while emphasizing confidentiality and mandating staff training on relevant laws.

The bill also 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 for its operations, while ensuring that identifying information of victims or witnesses is redacted. It establishes penalties for the unlawful release of confidential information, classifying it as a petty misdemeanor, and includes a $1 million appropriation from the general fund to support the office's establishment in fiscal year 2026. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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