Bill > SB237

This bill establishes a "Critical Incident Investigation Team" within the protective services division of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to investigate serious incidents involving children in state custody placed in various programs or facilities, referred to as "placement locations." The team will have a coordinator to manage intake and assign local investigation units, which must begin investigations within 24 hours and aim to complete them within 60 days, with written findings reported to the Office of Child Advocate. The bill also defines "critical incident" as any action or inaction affecting a child's well-being or safety in a placement location, and "serious critical incident" as an allegation of abuse or neglect at such a location. These investigations will have priority over the standard multilevel response system for child abuse and neglect reports, ensuring specialized and timely reviews of critical situations, and will require cooperation from the placement locations, with potential restrictions on new placements during investigations. The bill also includes an appropriation of $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 to fund these new provisions.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=237&year=26