Bill > HB252

This bill establishes the Kinship Caregiver Support Pilot Program within New Mexico's Aging and Long-Term Services Department, designed to support grandparents, relatives, and even non-related individuals (called "fictive kin") who are raising children that are not their own. The three-year pilot program will operate in five to seven counties, serving fifty participants in each community, with the goal of improving children's lives by providing economic support and access to services. The department will develop application criteria considering household income and children's needs, identify and coordinate access to federal, state, and local programs, and provide support such as legal assistance for participants seeking custody or guardianship. The program defines participants as kinship caregivers who are New Mexico residents and will collaborate with community organizations and nonprofits to secure additional resources. The department is required to create program rules by June 1, 2025, and submit annual reports to the legislative finance committee assessing the program's impact and outcomes. The bill includes an emergency clause, indicating its immediate implementation upon passage to address urgent needs of children and caregivers.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=252&year=25