New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico House Bill HB500 Compare Versions

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

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28	28	HOUSE BILL 500
29	29	57
30	30	TH LEGISLATURE
31	31	-
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33	33	STATE
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35	35	OF
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39	39	MEXICO
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42	42	FIRST SESSION
43	43	,
44	44
45	45	2025
46	46	INTRODUCED BY
47	47	Alan T. Martinez
48	48	AN ACT
49	49	RELATING TO CITIZEN SUBSTITUTE CARE REVIEW; PROVIDING FOR
50	50	SUBMISSION, REVIEW AND RESOLUTION OF GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE
51	51	CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT PERTAINING TO
52	52	SUBSTITUTE CARE; DEFINING TERMS IN THE CITIZEN SUBSTITUTE CARE
53	53	REVIEW ACT; PROVIDING FOR STAFFING OF THE SUBSTITUTE CARE
54	54	ADVISORY COUNCIL; PROVIDING FOR RULES PERTAINING TO VOLUNTEER
55	55	MEMBERS; PROVIDING ACCESS TO AND REQUIREMENTS FOR
56	56	CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN RECORDS AND INFORMATION; CHANGING
57	57	REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; AMENDING, REPEALING AND ENACTING
58	58	SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.
59	59	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
60	60	SECTION 1. Section 32A-4-33 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993,
61	61	Chapter 77, Section 127, as amended) is amended to read:
62	62	"32A-4-33. CONFIDENTIALITY--RECORDS--PENALTY.--
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90	90	A. All records or information concerning a party to
91	91	a neglect or abuse proceeding, including social records,
92	92	diagnostic evaluations, psychiatric or psychological reports,
93	93	videotapes, transcripts and audio recordings of a child's
94	94	statement of abuse or medical reports incident to or obtained
95	95	as a result of a neglect or abuse proceeding or that were
96	96	produced or obtained during an investigation in anticipation of
97	97	or incident to a neglect or abuse proceeding shall be
98	98	confidential and closed to the public.
99	99	B. The records described in Subsection A of this
100	100	section shall be disclosed only to the parties and:
101	101	(1) court personnel and persons or entities
102	102	authorized by contract with the court to review, inspect or
103	103	otherwise have access to records or information in the court's
104	104	possession;
105	105	(2) court-appointed special advocates
106	106	appointed to the neglect or abuse proceeding;
107	107	(3) the child's guardian ad litem;
108	108	(4) the attorney representing the child in an
109	109	abuse or neglect action, a delinquency action or any other
110	110	action under the Children's Code;
111	111	(5) department personnel and persons or
112	112	entities authorized by contract with the department to review,
113	113	inspect or otherwise have access to records or information in
114	114	the department's possession;
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143	143	(6) [any local substitute care review board or
144	144	any agency contracted to implement local substitute care review
145	145	boards] a member of the substitute care advisory council, a
146	146	member of the substitute care advisory council's staff or a
147	147	member of a board pursuant to the requirements of the Citizen
148	148	Substitute Care Review Act, if the records are requested for
149	149	the purpose of carrying out the provisions of that act ;
150	150	(7) law enforcement officials, except when use
151	151	immunity is granted pursuant to Section 32A-4-11 NMSA 1978;
152	152	(8) district attorneys, except when use
153	153	immunity is granted pursuant to Section 32A-4-11 NMSA 1978;
154	154	(9) any state government or tribal government
155	155	social services agency in any state or when, in the opinion of
156	156	the department, it is in the best interest of the child, a
157	157	governmental social services agency of another country;
158	158	(10) a foster parent, if the records are those
159	159	of a child currently placed with that foster parent or of a
160	160	child being considered for placement with that foster parent
161	161	and the records concern the social, medical, psychological or
162	162	educational needs of the child;
163	163	(11) school personnel involved with the child
164	164	if the records concern the child's social or educational needs;
165	165	(12) a grandparent, parent of a sibling,
166	166	relative or fictive kin, if the records or information pertain
167	167	to a child being considered for placement with that
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196	196	grandparent, parent of a sibling, relative or fictive kin and
197	197	the records or information concern the social, medical,
198	198	psychological or educational needs of the child;
199	199	(13) health care or mental health
200	200	professionals involved in the evaluation or treatment of the
201	201	child or of the child's parents, guardian, custodian or other
202	202	family members;
203	203	(14) protection and advocacy representatives
204	204	pursuant to the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance
205	205	and Bill of Rights Act and the federal Protection and Advocacy
206	206	for Mentally Ill Individuals Amendments Act of 1991;
207	207	(15) children's safehouse organizations
208	208	conducting investigatory interviews of children on behalf of a
209	209	law enforcement agency or the department;
210	210	(16) representatives of the federal government
211	211	or their contractors authorized by federal statute or
212	212	regulation to review, inspect, audit or otherwise have access
213	213	to records and information pertaining to neglect or abuse
214	214	proceedings;
215	215	(17) any person or entity attending a meeting
216	216	arranged by the department to discuss the safety, well-being
217	217	and permanency of a child, when the parent or child, or parent
218	218	or legal custodian on behalf of a child younger than fourteen
219	219	years of age, has consented to the disclosure; and
220	220	(18) any other person or entity, by order of
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249	249	the court, having a legitimate interest in the case or the work
250	250	of the court.
251	251	C. A parent, guardian or legal custodian whose
252	252	child has been the subject of an investigation of abuse or
253	253	neglect where no petition has been filed shall have the right
254	254	to inspect any medical report, psychological evaluation, law
255	255	enforcement reports or other investigative or diagnostic
256	256	evaluation; provided that any identifying information related
257	257	to the reporting party or any other party providing information
258	258	shall be deleted. The parent, guardian or legal custodian
259	259	shall also have the right to the results of the investigation
260	260	and the right to petition the court for full access to all
261	261	department records and information except those records and
262	262	information the department finds would be likely to endanger
263	263	the life or safety of any person providing information to the
264	264	department.
265	265	D. Whoever intentionally and unlawfully releases
266	266	any information or records closed to the public pursuant to the
267	267	Abuse and Neglect Act or releases or makes other unlawful use
268	268	of records in violation of that act is guilty of a petty
269	269	misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions
270	270	of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.
271	271	E. The department shall promulgate rules for
272	272	implementing disclosure of records pursuant to this section and
273	273	in compliance with state and federal law and the Children's
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302	302	Court Rules."
303	303	SECTION 2. Section 32A-8-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993,
304	304	Chapter 77, Section 204, as amended) is amended to read:
305	305	"32A-8-2. PURPOSE OF ACT.--The purpose of the Citizen
306	306	Substitute Care Review Act is to provide a permanent system for
307	307	independent and objective monitoring [of children placed in the
308	308	custody] of the department by examining the policies,
309	309	procedures and practices of the department [and, where
310	310	appropriate, specific cases ] to evaluate [the extent to which
311	311	the department is effectively ] its effectiveness in discharging
312	312	its child protection responsibilities and to meet federal
313	313	requirements for citizen review panels under the federal Child
314	314	Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act ."
315	315	SECTION 3. A new section of the Citizen Substitute Care
316	316	Review Act is enacted to read:
317	317	"[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Citizen
318	318	Substitute Care Review Act:
319	319	A. "board" means a substitute care review board of
320	320	volunteer members facilitated by council staff convened for the
321	321	purpose of reviews of designated cases or other related
322	322	activities deemed appropriate by the council;
323	323	B. "case" means an abuse or neglect case referred
324	324	to the department;
325	325	C. "council" means the substitute care advisory
326	326	council;
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355	355	D. "department" means the children, youth and
356	356	families department or its agent or contractor;
357	357	E. "grievance" means a complaint received by
358	358	council staff:
359	359	(1) of any action or inaction that may or has
360	360	adversely affected the health, safety, welfare or rights of an
361	361	identified child or identified adult; or
362	362	(2) of the failure of the department to comply
363	363	with the law or department policies;
364	364	F. "identified adult" means an adult participating
365	365	in the fostering connections program or that program's
366	366	successor;
367	367	G. "identified child" means a child who is:
368	368	(1) the subject of a referral of abuse and
369	369	neglect made to the department;
370	370	(2) receiving services from the department; or
371	371	(3) in the custody of the department due to
372	372	abuse and neglect proceedings;
373	373	H. "public member" means an individual who has been
374	374	appointed by the governor;
375	375	I. "substitute care" means custodial or residential
376	376	care for an identified child that is ordered or otherwise
377	377	sanctioned by the court and in which the child does not live
378	378	with either of the child's birth parents. "Substitute care"
379	379	includes foster care, kinship care or care within a group home,
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408	408	residential treatment center, juvenile justice facility, semi-
409	409	independent living program or emergency shelter; and
410	410	J. "volunteer member" means an individual who has
411	411	met eligibility requirements to perform volunteer services for
412	412	the council."
413	413	SECTION 4. Section 32A-8-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993,
414	414	Chapter 77, Section 206, as amended) is amended to read:
415	415	"32A-8-4. SUBSTITUTE CARE ADVISORY COUNCIL--MEMBERS--
416	416	COMPENSATION--RESPONSIBILITIES--ADVISORY COMMITTEE.--
417	417	A. The "substitute care advisory council" is
418	418	created and, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9-1-7
419	419	NMSA 1978, is administratively attached to the regulation and
420	420	licensing department. [The general purpose of the council is
421	421	to oversee substitute care review boards in their monitoring of
422	422	children placed in the custody of the children, youth and
423	423	families department to identify systemic policy issues
424	424	regarding substitute care. ] The council shall exercise its
425	425	functions independently and not under the control of the
426	426	department or the regulation and licensing department. The
427	427	council shall be composed of [nine persons ] ten voting members,
428	428	including:
429	429	(1) the secretary of public education or the
430	430	secretary's designee;
431	431	(2) the secretary of [human services ] health
432	432	care authority or the secretary's designee;
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461	461	(3) the secretary of finance and
462	462	administration or the secretary's designee;
463	463	(4) the secretary of health or the secretary's
464	464	designee;
465	465	[(5) two public members, appointed by the
466	466	governor, who:
467	467	(a) are at least eighteen and no more
468	468	than thirty years of age at the time of appointment; and
469	469	(b) were previously placed in substitute
470	470	care;
471	471	(6) two public members, appointed by the
472	472	governor, who have expertise in the area of child welfare; and ]
473	473	(5) the secretary of early childhood education
474	474	and care or the secretary's designee;
475	475	[(7)] (6) one children's court judge,
476	476	appointed by the governor; and
477	477	(7) four public members, two of whom have
478	478	expertise in the area of child welfare and two of whom have had
479	479	experience in abuse and neglect proceedings, including former
480	480	foster youth, biological parents, foster parents and adoptive
481	481	parents.
482	482	B. [The council may hire staff and contract for
483	483	services to carry out the purposes of the Citizen Substitute
484	484	Care Review Act.] The secretary of children, youth and families
485	485	or the secretary's designee shall serve as a nonvoting member.
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514	514	C. Except as provided pursuant to Paragraph [(7) ]
515	515	(6) of Subsection A and Subsection B of this section, a person
516	516	or a relative of a person employed by the department or a
517	517	district court shall not serve on the council.
518	518	[C.] D. Terms of office of public members of the
519	519	council shall be three years. Public members shall be eligible
520	520	for reappointment. In the event that a vacancy occurs among
521	521	the members of the council, the governor shall appoint another
522	522	person to serve the unexpired portion of the term.
523	523	E. A member of the council shall receive per diem
524	524	and mileage as provided for nonsalaried public officers
525	525	pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act; provided that, if a
526	526	different provision of that act applies to a member, that
527	527	member shall be paid pursuant to that provision. A member of
528	528	the council shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or
529	529	allowance.
530	530	[D.] F. The council shall select a chairperson, a
531	531	vice chairperson and other officers as it deems necessary.
532	532	[E.] G. The council shall meet no less than [twice
533	533	annually] quarterly and more frequently upon the call of the
534	534	chairperson.
535	535	H. The council may establish work groups and enter
536	536	into contracts, memoranda of understanding and joint powers
537	537	agreements to carry out the provisions of the Citizen
538	538	Substitute Care Review Act.
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567	567	[F.] I. The council shall adopt reasonable rules
568	568	relating to the functions and procedures of [the substitute
569	569	care review boards and ] the council [in accordance with the
570	570	duties of the boards as provided in the Citizen Substitute Care
571	571	Review Act]. These rules shall establish :
572	572	[(1) establish training requirements for
573	573	substitute care review board members;
574	574	(2) establish criteria for council designation
575	575	of cases for substitute care review board review;
576	576	(3) establish procedures for substitute care
577	577	review board review of designated cases;
578	578	(4) establish criteria for membership and
579	579	tenure on and operating procedures for substitute care review
580	580	boards;
581	581	(5) specify the information needed for
582	582	designated cases to be monitored by substitute care review
583	583	boards; and
584	584	(6) specify case information to be tracked and
585	585	reported to the council.
586	586	G. When adopting rules establishing criteria for
587	587	designation of cases for substitute care review board review,
588	588	the council shall weigh the importance of the following
589	589	factors, including:
590	590	(1) sibling placements;
591	591	(2) the frequency and severity of neglect or
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620	620	abuse;
621	621	(3) the behavioral health status of household
622	622	members;
623	623	(4) the placement of children in households
624	624	where there are no relatives of the children;
625	625	(5) data related to demographics; and
626	626	(6) relevant trend data ]
627	627	(1) procedures to ensure compliance with the
628	628	Open Meetings Act;
629	629	(2) initial and annual training requirements
630	630	for council staff;
631	631	(3) requirements for public participation,
632	632	including participation on work groups and boards;
633	633	(4) criteria for establishment of the
634	634	council's designation of cases;
635	635	(5) procedures for the council's review of
636	636	designated cases;
637	637	(6) procedures for receipt and processing of
638	638	grievances;
639	639	(7) procedures to provide for public outreach
640	640	and public comment to assess the impact of current child
641	641	protection procedures and practices on children and families in
642	642	the community; and
643	643	(8) other procedures to provide for compliance
644	644	with the Citizen Substitute Care Review Act and the federal
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673	673	Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act as it relates to
674	674	citizen review panels .
675	675	[H.] J. The council shall [review and coordinate
676	676	the activities of the substitute care review boards and make a
677	677	report with its recommendations to the department, the courts
678	678	and the appropriate legislative interim committees ] provide
679	679	periodic reports on the work of the council, including an
680	680	annual written report to the governor, the legislature, the
681	681	department and the administrative office of the courts and
682	682	other persons, organizations or agencies deemed appropriate.
683	683	The annual report shall be distributed electronically on or
684	684	before November 1 of each year [regarding statutes, rules,
685	685	policies and procedures relating to substitute care ]. This
686	686	report shall include [recommendations for any changes to
687	687	substitute care review boards.
688	688	I. Council members shall receive per diem and
689	689	mileage as provided for nonsalaried public officers in the Per
690	690	Diem and Mileage Act; provided that, if a different provision
691	691	of that act applies to a specific member, that member shall be
692	692	paid pursuant to that applicable provision. Members shall
693	693	receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.
694	694	J. The council shall appoint by October 1 of each
695	695	year a six-member advisory committee from a list of substitute
696	696	care review board members that the substitute care review
697	697	boards shall nominate. The advisory council shall meet with
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726	726	the council at least once per year to advise the council on
727	727	matters relating to substitute care review. Advisory committee
728	728	members shall serve terms of one year and may be reappointed ] a
729	729	summary of the activities of the council and recommendations to
730	730	improve child protective services at the state and local
731	731	levels. Other reports regarding trends or topics deemed
732	732	necessary by the council may be provided to the governor, the
733	733	legislature, the department and the administrative office of
734	734	the courts."
735	735	SECTION 5. A new section of the Citizen Substitute Care
736	736	Review Act is enacted to read:
737	737	"[NEW MATERIAL] COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION--STAFFING.--
738	738	A. The council shall hire a director who:
739	739	(1) shall oversee, manage and direct
740	740	processing of cases and grievances filed or reviewed pursuant
741	741	to the Citizen Substitute Care Review Act, provide
742	742	administrative support to the council and conduct any other
743	743	activities as deemed necessary by the council to support its
744	744	functions;
745	745	(2) shall act impartially in a nonpartisan
746	746	manner;
747	747	(3) shall promote public awareness of the
748	748	purpose and services of the council and the methods for
749	749	submitting grievances or requests for case review;
750	750	(4) shall employ staff for the council and fix
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779	779	compensation of the staff;
780	780	(5) shall prepare a budgetary request to be
781	781	submitted through the regulation and licensing department in
782	782	accordance with the provisions of Section 9-1-7 NMSA 1978; and
783	783	(6) may apply for and accept grants, gifts and
784	784	bequests from other states, federal and interstate agencies,
785	785	independent authorities, private firms, individuals and
786	786	foundations for the purpose of carrying out the
787	787	responsibilities of the council.
788	788	B. The director shall possess the following
789	789	qualifications:
790	790	(1) a master's degree in social work and
791	791	possession of a license issued pursuant to the Social Work
792	792	Practice Act; or
793	793	(2) an active license to practice law issued
794	794	pursuant to rules promulgated by the supreme court; and
795	795	(3) at least five years' experience in child
796	796	welfare administration, with an emphasis on child abuse and
797	797	neglect prevention or abatement.
798	798	C. The director shall hire staff to carry out the
799	799	purposes of the Citizen Substitute Care Review Act, including
800	800	review of cases and processing of grievances. Council staff
801	801	providing professional services shall possess:
802	802	(1) a bachelor's degree in social work,
803	803	psychology, guidance and counseling, education, sociology,
804	804	.229251.1
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832	832	criminal justice, criminology or family studies and at least
833	833	two years of experience in child welfare administration with an
834	834	emphasis on child abuse and neglect prevention or abatement; or
835	835	(2) at least four years of experience combined
836	836	from:
837	837	(a) study at an accredited college or
838	838	university in a field related to child welfare; or
839	839	(b) professional experience working in
840	840	the field in child welfare.
841	841	D. Council staff shall be required to complete
842	842	annual training directly relating to enhancing staff
843	843	proficiency, meeting job requirements, conducting case reviews
844	844	and processing grievances required pursuant to the Citizen
845	845	Substitute Care Review Act."
846	846	SECTION 6. A new section of the Citizen Substitute Care
847	847	Review Act is enacted to read:
848	848	"[NEW MATERIAL] ATTORNEY GENERAL REPRESENTATION AND
849	849	CONSULTATION.--The attorney general shall advise and consult
850	850	with the council, acting pursuant to the Citizen Substitute
851	851	Care Review Act, and render legal services upon request of the
852	852	council."
853	853	SECTION 7. A new section of the Citizen Substitute Care
854	854	Review Act is enacted to read:
855	855	"[NEW MATERIAL] GRIEVANCES.--
856	856	A. Council staff shall review each grievance
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885	885	submitted to council staff.
886	886	B. The council shall promulgate rules regarding
887	887	council staff's acceptance and processing of grievances to
888	888	establish:
889	889	(1) criteria for grievances that are accepted
890	890	by council staff;
891	891	(2) procedures for the referral of grievances
892	892	involving allegations of abuse and neglect pursuant to the
893	893	requirements provided in Sections 27-7-30 and 32A-4-3 NMSA
894	894	1978;
895	895	(3) procedures for the referral of grievances
896	896	that do not meet the criteria established by the council to an
897	897	appropriate entity; and
898	898	(4) investigation and assessment procedures
899	899	and time frames to respond to grievances.
900	900	C. Following the review of a grievance, council
901	901	staff shall submit a report to the department regarding the
902	902	strengths, concerns and recommendations relating to the
903	903	grievance.
904	904	D. The secretary of children, youth and families or
905	905	the secretary's designee shall acknowledge receipt of the
906	906	report within ten business days and indicate the department's
907	907	position as to each recommendation.
908	908	E. Council staff and the department shall meet
909	909	quarterly or as needed to develop mutually agreed-upon
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938	938	solutions.
939	939	F. An individual who requests a remedy pursuant to
940	940	this section shall not be precluded from pursuing other legal
941	941	or equitable remedies.
942	942	G. The department, its agent or contractor shall
943	943	not discharge, discriminate against in any manner or retaliate
944	944	against an employee, volunteer or contractor who, in good
945	945	faith, submits a grievance with the council."
946	946	SECTION 8. A new section of the Citizen Substitute Care
947	947	Review Act is enacted to read:
948	948	"[NEW MATERIAL] VOLUNTEER MEMBER PARTICIPATION--RULES.--
949	949	A. The council shall promulgate rules relating to
950	950	volunteer member participation, which shall include provisions
951	951	for:
952	952	(1) efforts to recruit and retain volunteer
953	953	members who are broadly representative of the communities in
954	954	which they serve and to include volunteer members with
955	955	expertise in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and
956	956	neglect and adult former victims of child abuse or neglect;
957	957	(2) a membership process that includes
958	958	background checks and orientation training;
959	959	(3) ongoing training requirements;
960	960	(4) procedures to address conflicts of actual,
961	961	perceived or possible conflicts of interest;
962	962	(5) a code of conduct; and
963	963	.229251.1
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991	991	(6) procedures to maintain confidentiality of
992	992	information required to be kept confidential as required by
993	993	law.
994	994	B. Each volunteer member who meets the requirements
995	995	established by council rules shall participate at least once
996	996	quarterly in case reviews and other activities deemed
997	997	appropriate by council staff.
998	998	C. Volunteer members may receive per diem and
999	999	mileage as provided for nonsalaried public officers in the Per
1000	1000	Diem and Mileage Act; provided that if a different provision of
1001	1001	that act applies to a specific member, that member shall be
1002	1002	paid pursuant to that applicable provision. Volunteer members
1003	1003	shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance."
1004	1004	SECTION 9. A new section of the Citizen Substitute Care
1005	1005	Review Act is enacted to read:
1006	1006	"[NEW MATERIAL] SUBSTITUTE CARE REVIEW BOARD
1007	1007	ESTABLISHMENT--CASE REVIEW.--
1008	1008	A. The council shall establish boards composed
1009	1009	entirely of volunteer members to review cases designated in
1010	1010	accordance with council rules.
1011	1011	B. When a case has been designated for review
1012	1012	pursuant to council rules, the staff of the council shall
1013	1013	convene a board to review the case.
1014	1014	C. If a case reviewed by a board is a children's
1015	1015	court case, the staff of the council shall give the parties to
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1044	1044	the case notice of the review and afford the parties to the
1045	1045	case an opportunity to provide input relevant to the review.
1046	1046	If the case involves an Indian child, notice shall additionally
1047	1047	be provided to persons afforded notice pursuant to the federal
1048	1048	Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.
1049	1049	D. After a board's review of a children's court
1050	1050	case, council staff shall submit a report of the board's
1051	1051	findings and recommendations to the children's court, the
1052	1052	department and the parties to the case. If the case involves
1053	1053	an Indian child, the report shall additionally be provided to
1054	1054	persons afforded notice pursuant to the federal Indian Child
1055	1055	Welfare Act of 1978.
1056	1056	E. The department shall acknowledge receipt of the
1057	1057	report within ten business days and indicate the department's
1058	1058	position with each recommendation.
1059	1059	F. Council staff and the department shall meet
1060	1060	quarterly, or as needed to develop mutually agreed-upon
1061	1061	solutions."
1062	1062	SECTION 10. A new section of the Citizen Substitute Care
1063	1063	Review Act is enacted to read:
1064	1064	"[NEW MATERIAL] ACCESS TO RECORDS.--
1065	1065	A. Subject to state or federal law to the contrary,
1066	1066	council staff shall have access to, including the right to
1067	1067	inspect and copy, any records necessary to carry out council
1068	1068	responsibilities, including access to the following:
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1097	1097	(1) social records, diagnostic evaluations,
1098	1098	psychiatric or psychologic reports, video footage, transcripts
1099	1099	and audio records of a child's statement of abuse or medical
1100	1100	reports incident to an abuse or neglect proceeding;
1101	1101	(2) a record of an agency, hospital,
1102	1102	organization, school, person or office, including the clerk of
1103	1103	the court, the department, a court-appointed special advocate
1104	1104	program, a public or private health care facility, a medical or
1105	1105	mental health care professional, a law enforcement agency or
1106	1106	other agency that provides services to children and families;
1107	1107	(3) a record of an administrative hearing
1108	1108	conducted by the department and any findings or conclusions
1109	1109	resulting from such hearing; and
1110	1110	(4) a record of a private meeting with a child
1111	1111	in protective custody or with an individual with knowledge of
1112	1112	the case or grievance.
1113	1113	B. The department shall establish procedures to
1114	1114	provide the requested records in a timely manner.
1115	1115	C. The department shall:
1116	1116	(1) establish procedures to provide the
1117	1117	requested records in a timely manner and to ensure staff
1118	1118	availability to provide input for case reviews and processing
1119	1119	of grievances; and
1120	1120	(2) ensure that its agents and contractors
1121	1121	provide requested records in a timely manner and ensure staff
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1150	1150	availability to provide input for case reviews and processing
1151	1151	of grievances.
1152	1152	D. The department, its agent or contractor shall
1153	1153	not discharge, discriminate against in any manner or retaliate
1154	1154	against an employee, volunteer or contractor who, in good
1155	1155	faith, communicates with the council about a grievance, case
1156	1156	review or provision of records pursuant to this section."
1157	1157	SECTION 11. A new section of the Citizen Substitute Care
1158	1158	Review Act is enacted to read:
1159	1159	"[NEW MATERIAL] CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION.--
1160	1160	A. Information obtained or generated by a member of
1161	1161	the council, a staff member of the council or a member of a
1162	1162	board for the purpose of performing duties in compliance with
1163	1163	the Citizen Substitute Care Review Act is not subject to the
1164	1164	provisions of the Inspection of Public Records Act.
1165	1165	B. The name, address or other personally
1166	1166	identifiable information of a person whose records are released
1167	1167	to council staff or who files a grievance shall be
1168	1168	confidential.
1169	1169	C. A member of the council, a staff member of the
1170	1170	council or a member of a board with knowledge of a case or
1171	1171	grievance that was obtained pursuant to the Citizen Substitute
1172	1172	Care Review Act shall maintain that information as confidential
1173	1173	unless:
1174	1174	(1) the person filing the grievance or the
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1203	1203	identified child or identified adult who is the subject of the
1204	1204	case consents in writing to disclosure of that information to
1205	1205	another person;
1206	1206	(2) the person filing the grievance or the
1207	1207	identified child or identified adult who is the subject of the
1208	1208	case provides oral consent for disclosure to another person
1209	1209	that is immediately documented in writing by council staff; or
1210	1210	(3) disclosure is ordered by a court."
1211	1211	SECTION 12. REPEAL.--Sections 32A-8-5 and 32A-8-6 NMSA
1212	1212	1978 (being Laws 1993, Chapter 77, Sections 207 and 208, as
1213	1213	amended) are repealed.
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