The bill amends and renames the existing Juvenile Community Corrections Act to the "Juvenile Community Connections Act," allowing funds from the Juvenile Community Corrections Grant Fund to be used for programs that provide services to children, youth, or adjudicated delinquents referred to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. It introduces new definitions such as "child," "youth," and "research-based interventions and risk reduction services," and specifies that the fund can support grants to counties, municipalities, or private organizations for community programs aimed at adjudicated delinquents or youth involved in juvenile justice services. The bill also sets a limit of twelve percent on administrative costs from the fund and mandates the department to adopt rules for grant qualifications and priorities, along with an annual report on grant awards and program outcomes.

Additionally, the bill updates terminology related to various boards and organizations in New Mexico, replacing "comprehensive health" with "medical insurance pool" concerning the board of directors. It introduces the "New Mexico student loan guarantee corporation" as a new entity and clarifies definitions related to public entities and employees, defining "local public body" and providing clear definitions for "public employee" and "state." These changes aim to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of the legal framework governing juvenile services and public entities in New Mexico.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 33-9A-1, 33-9A-2, 33-9A-3, 33-9A-4, 33-9A-5, 41-4-3, 41-13-2