New Mexico 2023 Regular Session

New Mexico House Bill HB312 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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28	28	HOUSE BILL 312
29	29	56
30	30	TH LEGISLATURE
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33	33	STATE
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35	35	OF
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37	37	NEW
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39	39	MEXICO
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41	41	-
42	42	FIRST SESSION
43	43	,
44	44
45	45	2023
46	46	INTRODUCED BY
47	47	Stefani Lord and Jason C. Harper and Mark Duncan
48	48	and Alan T. Martinez
49	49	AN ACT
50	50	RELATING TO CHILDREN; REQUIRING A BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD
51	51	DETERMINATION IN ALL ABUSE AND NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS; PROVIDING A
52	52	BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD STANDARD IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT
53	53	PROCEEDINGS.
54	54	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
55	55	SECTION 1. A new section of the Abuse and Neglect Act is
56	56	enacted to read:
57	57	"[NEW MATERIAL] BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD DETERMINATION
58	58	REQUIREMENT--BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD STANDARD.--
59	59	A. The best interests of the child standard
60	60	reflects the protection of a child from abuse and neglect. In
61	61	proceedings to terminate parental rights and for permanent
62	62	guardianship, the standard encompasses stability and permanency
63	63	in placement.
64	64	.223711.5 underscored material = new
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91	91	B. In all matters and proceedings that concern a
92	92	child, the best interests of the child shall apply and the
93	93	following factors shall be considered in determining the best
94	94	interests of the child:
95	95	(1) the child's age and physical and mental
96	96	vulnerabilities;
97	97	(2) the frequency and nature of any out-of-
98	98	home placements for the child;
99	99	(3) the frequency, magnitude and other
100	100	circumstances of the harm to the child;
101	101	(4) any repeated harm suffered by the child;
102	102	(5) any fear by the child of living in or
103	103	returning to the home from which the child was removed, current
104	104	placement or potential placement;
105	105	(6) the results of psychiatric, psychological
106	106	or developmental evaluations of the child, the child's parents
107	107	or other family members;
108	108	(7) any history of abusive conduct by the
109	109	child's family or others who have access to the child's home;
110	110	(8) any history of substantiated claims of
111	111	substance abuse by the child's family or others who have access
112	112	to the child's home;
113	113	(9) whether the perpetrator of the harm to the
114	114	child is identified;
115	115	(10) whether an identified perpetrator has or
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144	144	may have continued access to the child;
145	145	(11) the circumstances under which a parent
146	146	voluntarily relinquished parental rights to the child;
147	147	(12) the willingness and ability of the
148	148	child's family to:
149	149	(a) seek, accept and complete family
150	150	services, including services that address specific needs of the
151	151	child or family;
152	152	(b) cooperate with and facilitate close
153	153	supervision by an appropriate agency; and
154	154	(c) complete psychological, domestic
155	155	violence and substance abuse assessments;
156	156	(13) the willingness and ability of the
157	157	child's family to effect positive environmental and personal
158	158	changes within a reasonable period of time;
159	159	(14) a demonstration by the child's family of
160	160	adequate parenting skills, including providing the child and
161	161	other children under the family's care with:
162	162	(a) minimally adequate health and
163	163	nutritional care;
164	164	(b) nurture, care and appropriate
165	165	discipline consistent with the child's physical and
166	166	psychological development;
167	167	(c) guidance and supervision consistent
168	168	with the child's safety;
169	169	.223711.5
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197	197	(d) a safe home environment;
198	198	(e) protection from repeated exposure to
199	199	violence even though the violence may not be directed at the
200	200	child; and
201	201	(f) an understanding of the child's
202	202	needs and capabilities; and
203	203	(15) the availability of an adequate social
204	204	support system for the child consisting of an extended family
205	205	and friends."
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207	207	.223711.5