The proposed New Mexico Child Safety and Welfare Act aims to enhance child welfare services by implementing several key provisions. It requires the Children, Youth and Families Department to use state-issued electronic devices for departmental duties and mandates the retention of electronic records for at least seven years post-termination. The bill introduces a multilevel response system statewide and aligns with the federal Family First Prevention Services Act to focus on foster care prevention services. Additionally, it transfers the administration of a program under the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act from the Children, Youth and Families Department to the Health Care Authority. The bill also establishes new requirements for hospitals and birthing centers regarding the collection and reporting of data related to substance-exposed children and the development of "plans of safe care."

Moreover, the bill amends existing definitions and guidelines related to child welfare, emphasizing confidentiality in child abuse and neglect information and outlining the conditions for sharing such information. It requires hospitals to report the creation of plans of safe care and ensures care coordinators are available in birthing hospitals. The bill also clarifies that notifications regarding plans of safe care do not constitute child abuse reports, protecting families from unnecessary investigations. It mandates the health care authority to provide annual reports on the plan of safe care system and establishes a public dashboard for transparency regarding child fatalities and near-fatalities. Overall, the amendments aim to strengthen the support system for children and families while ensuring compliance with federal guidelines and maintaining confidentiality in sensitive cases.

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