The "Office of Child Ombud Act" establishes a new Office of Child Ombud within New Mexico's Children's Code, aimed at enhancing the welfare of children and families. This office will be administratively attached to the administrative office of the courts but will operate independently regarding its budget and decisions. The state child ombud, appointed for a six-year term, will oversee the office, which will also have a State Child Ombud Selection Committee to ensure a diverse and qualified candidate pool. The office will be responsible for reviewing services, investigating complaints, and compiling annual performance reports while maintaining confidentiality in handling sensitive information.

The bill amends existing laws on the confidentiality of records related to child neglect or abuse, allowing the Office of Child Ombud and its employees access to these records for their duties. It also clarifies that parents or guardians can access necessary information for a child's care and allows children aged fourteen or older to access their records. The legislation includes a $1 million appropriation from the general fund for the office's establishment in fiscal year 2026 and imposes penalties for the unlawful release of confidential information. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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