Bill > HB86

This bill establishes the Children, Youth and Families Commission to set policy and direct the operations of a state agency responsible for child welfare, creating a new "Children, Youth and Families Department Act." The commission will consist of three members appointed by the governor, speaker of the house, and president pro tempore of the senate, with specific qualifications and staggered terms. The bill also outlines the powers and duties of the commission, including appointing a superintendent of children, youth and families, approving budgets, and overseeing the department's structure and operations. The department itself will be organized into various divisions and bureaus, with the superintendent serving as its head and responsible for day-to-day management. The bill also details qualifications for correctional officers, establishes a juvenile continuum grant fund for cost-effective services and alternatives to detention for juveniles, and mandates the retention of electronic records generated by department employees. Additionally, it makes changes to the composition of the Children's Cabinet, replacing the "secretary of human services" with the "superintendent of children, youth and families" and the "secretary of health care authority." The bill includes a contingent effective date, with provisions taking effect on July 1, 2027, and January 1, 2028, depending on the outcome of a proposed constitutional amendment.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=86&year=26