The proposed New Mexico Child Safety and Welfare Act aims to enhance child welfare services through various measures, including the mandatory use of state-issued electronic devices for departmental duties and the retention of electronic records for a minimum of seven years post-termination. The bill transfers the administration of a program under the federal Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act from the Children, Youth and Families Department to the Health Care Authority and requires the development of a strategic plan in alignment with the federal Family First Prevention Services Act. It also emphasizes a multilevel response system and the creation of plans of safe care for substance-exposed newborns, while amending existing definitions and requirements within the Children's Code.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for data collection and reporting related to substance-exposed children, mandating hospitals and birthing centers to report when a plan of safe care is created. It clarifies the responsibilities of stakeholders in ensuring compliance with these plans and establishes a framework for notifying the department of noncompliance. The bill enhances confidentiality provisions regarding personal information in abuse and neglect cases and mandates the timely release of information related to child fatalities or near fatalities. Furthermore, it enacts the "Families First Act," requiring the development of a strategic plan for foster care prevention services and the creation of a public dashboard to report child welfare data, with a focus on evidence-based services eligible for federal reimbursement by 2032.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 32A-1-4, 32A-3A-2, 32A-3A-13, 32A-3A-14, 32A-4-3
JU substitute: 9-2A-8, 32A-1-4, 32A-3A-2, 32A-3A-13, 32A-3A-14, 32A-4-2, 32A-4-3, 32A-4-4.1, 32A-4-21, 32A-4-33, 32A-4-33.1
RU substitute: 32A-1-4, 32A-3A-13, 32A-3A-14, 32A-4-3
Final Version: 9-2A-8, 32A-1-4, 32A-3A-2, 32A-3A-13, 32A-3A-14, 32A-4-2, 32A-4-3, 32A-4-4.1, 32A-4-21, 32A-4-33, 32A-4-33.1