The bill amends the Public Service Law Loan Repayment Act by expanding the definition of "public service employment" to include the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy, and it adds the Director of this office to the Public Service Law Advisory Committee. Additionally, it establishes the Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan Repayment Act, which creates a dedicated fund to support loan repayment for public service workers in critical fields related to child and family welfare. The bill outlines the responsibilities of the higher education department regarding the new loan repayment program, including criteria for awards and eligibility requirements, and mandates annual reporting to the governor and legislature on the program's activities.

Moreover, the bill makes various amendments to the New Mexico Children's Code and the Fostering Connections Act to clarify definitions and enhance legal representation for children and families in abuse, neglect, and custody proceedings. It introduces key definitions such as "relative," "reservation," and "tribal court," and establishes the office of family representation and advocacy to appoint attorneys for eligible individuals. Significant changes include the requirement for courts to appoint counsel for parents at the start of abuse or neglect proceedings and provisions for seeking attorneys not contracted with the office when necessary. The bill emphasizes cultural competency in legal representation and ensures that eligible adults in the fostering connections program remain under the jurisdiction of the children's court.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 21-22F-3, 21-22F-8, 32A-1-4, 32A-4-10, 32A-26-2, 32A-26-7, 32A-27-2, 32A-27-3