The bill amends the Public Service Law Loan Repayment Act to include the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy in the definition of "public service employment," thereby allowing attorneys working in this office to be eligible for loan repayment awards. It also adds the Director of the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy to the Public Service Law Advisory Committee, which advises the higher education department on the loan repayment program's administration. Additionally, the bill introduces the Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan Repayment Act, establishing a new fund to provide financial assistance to public service workers in critical child and family welfare fields. The program requires public service workers to complete at least one year of service to qualify for loan repayment, prioritizing those in hard-to-fill positions, and mandates annual reporting on the program's activities.

Furthermore, the bill amends various sections of 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 role of the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy in appointing attorneys for eligible individuals. Significant changes include the requirement for courts to appoint counsel for parents or guardians at the start of abuse or neglect proceedings and provisions for seeking attorneys outside of contracted services when necessary. The bill emphasizes cultural competency in legal representation and allows for the waiver of representation rights under specific conditions, ensuring that eligible adults in the fostering connections program remain under children's court jurisdiction.

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