New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico Senate Bill SB307 Compare Versions

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

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28	28	SENATE BILL 307
29	29	57
30	30	TH LEGISLATURE
31	31	-
32	32
33	33	STATE
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35	35	OF
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37	37	NEW
38	38
39	39	MEXICO
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41	41	-
42	42	FIRST SESSION
43	43	,
44	44
45	45	2025
46	46	INTRODUCED BY
47	47	Katy M. Duhigg and Heather Berghmans and Crystal Brantley
48	48	and Mimi Stewart and Joseph Cervantes
49	49	AN ACT
50	50	RELATING TO FAMILIES; ENACTING THE OFFICE OF CHILD OMBUD ACT;
51	51	PROVIDING FOR THE STATE CHILD OMBUD; CREATING THE OFFICE OF
52	52	CHILD OMBUD AND ESTABLISHING THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THAT
53	53	OFFICE; PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATE CHILD
54	54	OMBUD SELECTION COMMITTEE; AMENDING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF
55	55	THE NMSA 1978; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
56	56	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
57	57	SECTION 1. A new section of the Children's Code is
58	58	enacted to read:
59	59	"[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--Sections 1 through 13 of
60	60	this act may be cited as the "Office of Child Ombud Act"."
61	61	SECTION 2. A new section of the Children's Code is
62	62	enacted to read:
63	63	"[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Office of
64	64	.229962.3 underscored material = new
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91	91	Child Ombud Act:
92	92	A. "committee" means the state child ombud
93	93	selection committee;
94	94	B. "near fatality" means an injury or condition
95	95	caused by abuse or neglect that results in a child:
96	96	(1) being placed in serious or critical
97	97	condition, as certified by a licensed physician; and
98	98	(2) receiving critical care for at least
99	99	twenty-four hours following the child's admission to a critical
100	100	care unit;
101	101	C. "office" means the office of child ombud; and
102	102	D. "ombud" means the individual who heads the
103	103	office and has the powers and duties set forth in Section 6 of
104	104	the Office of Child Ombud Act."
105	105	SECTION 3. A new section of the Children's Code is
106	106	enacted to read:
107	107	"[NEW MATERIAL] OFFICE OF CHILD OMBUD--CREATED.--The
108	108	"office of child ombud" is created and is administratively
109	109	attached to the administrative office of the courts. The
110	110	office shall maintain autonomy over the office's budget and any
111	111	decisions the office may take."
112	112	SECTION 4. A new section of the Children's Code is
113	113	enacted to read:
114	114	"[NEW MATERIAL] STATE CHILD OMBUD--APPOINTMENT--
115	115	DUTIES.--The head of the office is the "state child ombud", who
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144	144	shall be appointed for a term of six years. The ombud may be
145	145	reappointed to successive terms. An appointed ombud shall
146	146	serve and have all of the duties, responsibilities and
147	147	authority of that office until appointment of a new ombud. The
148	148	governor or the supreme court may remove the ombud only for
149	149	malfeasance, misfeasance or abuse of office."
150	150	SECTION 5. A new section of the Children's Code is
151	151	enacted to read:
152	152	"[NEW MATERIAL] STATE CHILD OMBUD SELECTION COMMITTEE--
153	153	DUTIES.--
154	154	A. The "state child ombud selection committee" is
155	155	created and consists of nine members, including:
156	156	(1) one member who shall be selected by the
157	157	president pro tempore of the senate;
158	158	(2) one member who shall be selected by the
159	159	minority floor leader of the senate;
160	160	(3) one member who shall be selected by the
161	161	speaker of the house of representatives;
162	162	(4) one member who shall be selected by the
163	163	minority floor leader of the house of representatives;
164	164	(5) four members who shall be selected by the
165	165	governor:
166	166	(a) no more than two of whom are from
167	167	the same political party and have not changed political party
168	168	affiliation in the last two years;
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197	197	(b) one of whom shall have specialized
198	198	expertise in the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 and
199	199	the Indian Family Protection Act; and
200	200	(c) one of whom shall have extensive
201	201	knowledge of child protective services, juvenile justice
202	202	services or child welfare; and
203	203	(6) the chair of the committee, whom a
204	204	majority of the other eight members select and who is:
205	205	(a) not a candidate for the position of
206	206	ombud; and
207	207	(b) a person with extensive knowledge of
208	208	child welfare and the Children's Code.
209	209	B. The committee shall meet exclusively for the
210	210	purpose of nominating persons to fill a current or impending
211	211	vacancy in the position of ombud. The committee shall actively
212	212	solicit, accept and evaluate applications for the position of
213	213	ombud and may require applicants to submit any information that
214	214	the committee deems relevant to the consideration of
215	215	applications. Within ninety days before the date on which the
216	216	term of an ombud ends or no later than sixty days after the
217	217	occurrence of a vacancy in the ombud position, the committee
218	218	shall convene and, within sixty days after convening, submit to
219	219	the governor the names of persons who are recommended for
220	220	appointment to the position by a majority of the committee
221	221	members.
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250	250	C. After receiving nominations for the position of
251	251	ombud, the governor may make one request of the committee for
252	252	submission of additional names. The committee shall promptly
253	253	submit those additional names if a majority of the committee
254	254	members finds that additional persons would be qualified and
255	255	recommends those persons for appointment as ombud. The
256	256	governor shall fill a vacancy or appoint a successor to fill an
257	257	impending vacancy in the position of ombud within sixty days
258	258	after receiving final nominations from the committee by
259	259	appointing one of the persons nominated by the committee.
260	260	D. The committee is administratively attached to
261	261	the administrative office of the courts.
262	262	E. After the initial meeting of the committee, the
263	263	governor or the chair of the committee may call subsequent
264	264	meetings of the committee to nominate persons to fill a current
265	265	or impending vacancy in the position of ombud.
266	266	F. The members of the committee shall receive per
267	267	diem and mileage as provided in the Per Diem and Mileage Act
268	268	and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or
269	269	allowance."
270	270	SECTION 6. A new section of the Children's Code is
271	271	enacted to read:
272	272	"[NEW MATERIAL] OFFICE OF CHILD OMBUD--POWERS--DUTIES.--
273	273	The office:
274	274	A. shall:
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303	303	(1) review the department's provision of
304	304	services to children and families, receive complaints
305	305	concerning the actions of the department or of any entity that
306	306	provides services to children and families through funds
307	307	provided by the department and make appropriate referrals when
308	308	the ombud determines that a child or family may be in need of
309	309	assistance from the office;
310	310	(2) review current systems to determine the
311	311	extent to which the department's policies and procedures
312	312	protect and enhance children's personal dignity, right to
313	313	privacy, appropriate health care and education in accordance
314	314	with state and federal law;
315	315	(3) adopt and promulgate rules in accordance
316	316	with the State Rules Act as are deemed necessary to carry out
317	317	the provisions of the Office of Child Ombud Act;
318	318	(4) operate a toll-free hotline and electronic
319	319	communication portal to receive complaints pursuant to this
320	320	section;
321	321	(5) investigate and attempt to resolve
322	322	complaints made by or on behalf of children placed in the
323	323	custody of the department, receiving services under the
324	324	supervision of the department, referred to the department or
325	325	whose parent, guardian or custodian is under investigation by
326	326	the department;
327	327	(6) upon investigation of a complaint, notify
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356	356	the complainant and subjects of the complaint of the
357	357	investigation or, if the office declines to investigate a
358	358	complaint or continue an investigation, notify the complainant
359	359	and the subjects of the complaint that no further action will
360	360	be taken by the office;
361	361	(7) update the complainant on the progress of
362	362	the investigation every ninety days and notify the complainant
363	363	and the subjects of the complaint of the final outcome within
364	364	ninety days of the completion of the investigation;
365	365	(8) provide information about recipients'
366	366	rights and responsibilities related to departmental services;
367	367	(9) provide information concerning child and
368	368	family welfare to the governor, state agencies and legislators;
369	369	(10) compile an annual report pursuant to
370	370	Section 7 of the Office of Child Ombud Act;
371	371	(11) subpoena witnesses to provide testimony
372	372	in cases in which a fatality or near fatality of a child has
373	373	occurred while the child was in the custody of the department;
374	374	(12) access information or records that are
375	375	necessary for carrying out the provisions of the Office of
376	376	Child Ombud Act; and
377	377	(13) access and review information, records or
378	378	documents, including records of third parties, that the office
379	379	deems necessary to conduct a thorough and independent review of
380	380	a complaint so long as the department would be entitled to
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409	409	access or receive such information, records or documents; and
410	410	B. may:
411	411	(1) hire and contract for such professional,
412	412	technical and support staff as needed to carry out the
413	413	functions of the office;
414	414	(2) meet or communicate with any child placed
415	415	in the custody of the department, receiving services under the
416	416	supervision of the department, referred to the department or
417	417	whose parent, guardian or custodian is under investigation by
418	418	the department in a developmentally sensitive method; and
419	419	(3) decide whether to investigate a complaint
420	420	or refer a complaint to another agency for investigation."
421	421	SECTION 7. A new section of the Children's Code is
422	422	enacted to read:
423	423	"[NEW MATERIAL] ANNUAL REPORT--REPORT CONTENTS--CREATION
424	424	AND MAINTENANCE OF WEBSITE CONTAINING REPORT INFORMATION.--
425	425	A. Each year, the office shall submit to the
426	426	legislative finance committee, the department and the governor
427	427	on or before September 1 a report addressing services provided
428	428	by the department, including:
429	429	(1) the quality of services provided to
430	430	children and families;
431	431	(2) the conditions of placements for New
432	432	Mexico's children, including the number of out-of-state
433	433	placements and an assessment of each active congregate care and
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462	462	juvenile justice facility in which children in the custody of
463	463	the department are placed;
464	464	(3) the number of children removed from a
465	465	residence of a parent, foster parent or guardian;
466	466	(4) the number of children returned to a
467	467	household from which they were removed;
468	468	(5) the number of children removed from a
469	469	household subsequent to being returned to a household from
470	470	which they were removed;
471	471	(6) the number of children placed in the
472	472	custody of a juvenile justice facility;
473	473	(7) the number of children placed in the
474	474	custody of the department who have run away from a department
475	475	placement, the number of children placed in the custody of the
476	476	department who have been found after running away and the
477	477	number of children placed in the custody of the department who
478	478	are currently missing;
479	479	(8) the number of cases in which families
480	480	subject to court-ordered treatment plans or voluntary placement
481	481	agreements have absconded with children placed in the custody
482	482	of the department;
483	483	(9) a review of systemic issues related to
484	484	services for assistance to children and families within the
485	485	child protection and juvenile justice systems;
486	486	(10) findings and recommendations related to
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515	515	the implementation of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of
516	516	1978 and the Indian Family Protection Act;
517	517	(11) recommendations related to improving
518	518	services for children and families;
519	519	(12) data disaggregated by race, ethnicity,
520	520	gender, geographic location, sexual identity, disability status
521	521	and any other categories that the office deems necessary; and
522	522	(13) the training and certification process
523	523	for the ombud and office staff.
524	524	B. The office shall create and maintain a web page
525	525	on which the data contained in Subsection A of this section
526	526	shall be provided in an accessible manner and updated
527	527	quarterly.
528	528	C. Each year the annual report shall be posted to
529	529	the web page created pursuant to Subsection B of this section."
530	530	SECTION 8. A new section of the Children's Code is
531	531	enacted to read:
532	532	"[NEW MATERIAL] TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION.--
533	533	A. The ombud shall ensure that office staff are
534	534	trained in:
535	535	(1) federal, state, local and tribal laws,
536	536	regulations and policies with respect to child protection and
537	537	juvenile justice services in the state;
538	538	(2) investigative techniques, including
539	539	trauma-informed care and questioning;
540	540	.229962.3
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568	568	(3) the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of
569	569	1978, the Indian Family Protection Act, tribal culture, tribal
570	570	relations and sovereign nation status; and
571	571	(4) department policies and procedures.
572	572	B. The ombud shall develop procedures for the
573	573	training and certification of appropriate staff.
574	574	C. An officer, employee or other representative of
575	575	the office shall not investigate any complaint filed with the
576	576	office unless that person is certified by the office."
577	577	SECTION 9. A new section of the Children's Code is
578	578	enacted to read:
579	579	"[NEW MATERIAL] CONFLICT OF INTEREST.--Persons who are
580	580	employees of the office or who have contracts with the office
581	581	shall not have a conflict of interest with the department or
582	582	with an entity that provides services to children and families
583	583	through funds provided by the department relating to the
584	584	performance of their responsibilities pursuant to the
585	585	Children's Code. For the purposes of this section, a conflict
586	586	of interest exists whenever the ombud, an employee of the
587	587	office or a person having a contract with the office:
588	588	A. licenses, certifies or accredits a provider or
589	589	facility delivering services to children and families pursuant
590	590	to the Children's Code;
591	591	B. has a direct ownership interest in a provider or
592	592	facility delivering services to children and families pursuant
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621	621	to the Children's Code;
622	622	C. is employed by or participates in the management
623	623	of a provider or facility delivering services to children and
624	624	families pursuant to the Children's Code; or
625	625	D. receives, directly or indirectly, remuneration
626	626	pursuant to a compensation arrangement with a provider or
627	627	facility delivering services to children and families pursuant
628	628	to the Children's Code."
629	629	SECTION 10. A new section of the Children's Code is
630	630	enacted to read:
631	631	"[NEW MATERIAL] INCIDENTS, FATALITIES AND NEAR
632	632	FATALITIES.--
633	633	A. The department shall provide the office with a
634	634	copy of all reports related to actual physical injury to
635	635	children in the custody of the department within thirty days of
636	636	receiving the report, whether substantiated or unsubstantiated.
637	637	B. The department shall provide the office with a
638	638	written notification within seventy-two hours of:
639	639	(1) a fatality or near fatality of a child in
640	640	its custody or referred or receiving services under the
641	641	supervision of the department; and
642	642	(2) the restraint or seclusion of a child in
643	643	its custody."
644	644	SECTION 11. A new section of the Children's Code is
645	645	enacted to read:
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674	674	"[NEW MATERIAL] LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS.--Upon request by
675	675	the office, law enforcement agencies shall share with the
676	676	office all law enforcement reports involving children
677	677	identified by the agencies as having been placed in the custody
678	678	of the department, receiving services under the supervision of
679	679	the department, referred to the department or whose parent,
680	680	guardian or custodian is under investigation by the
681	681	department."
682	682	SECTION 12. A new section of the Children's Code is
683	683	enacted to read:
684	684	"[NEW MATERIAL] CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION.--
685	685	A. The office shall maintain the confidentiality of
686	686	all case records, third-party records and court records, as
687	687	well as any information gathered in the course of
688	688	investigations and system monitoring duties. These records are
689	689	exempt from public inspection and copying pursuant to the
690	690	Inspection of Public Records Act and shall be kept confidential
691	691	unless:
692	692	(1) disclosure is ordered by the court;
693	693	(2) disclosure is necessary to prevent
694	694	imminent harm and the imminent harm is communicated directly to
695	695	the ombud or staff of the office;
696	696	(3) disclosure is necessary to the department
697	697	in order for the department to determine the appropriateness of
698	698	initiating an investigation regarding potential abuse or
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727	727	neglect or other emergency circumstances; or
728	728	(4) disclosure is necessary to the department
729	729	in order for the department to determine the appropriateness of
730	730	initiating an investigation to determine facility compliance
731	731	with applicable rules of licensure or certification or both.
732	732	B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A
733	733	of this section, the office may publicly report any patterns of
734	734	conduct or repeated incidents identified by the office in
735	735	carrying out the provisions of the Office of Child Ombud Act;
736	736	provided that the office shall not publicly disclose either of
737	737	the following:
738	738	(1) individually identifiable information
739	739	about a child; and
740	740	(2) investigation findings when there is
741	741	pending law enforcement investigation or prosecution."
742	742	SECTION 13. A new section of the Children's Code is
743	743	enacted to read:
744	744	"[NEW MATERIAL] NOTIFICATION OF OFFICE OF CHILD OMBUD.--
745	745	The department shall notify all children placed in the custody
746	746	of the department, receiving services under the supervision of
747	747	the department, referred to the department or whose parent,
748	748	guardian or custodian is under investigation by the department
749	749	and their parents, guardians, foster parents and identified
750	750	fictive kin of the existence of the office, its purpose and
751	751	function and its toll-free hotline and electronic communication
752	752	.229962.3
753	753	- 14 - underscored material = new
754	754	[bracketed material] = delete
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780	780	portal with instructions for access."
781	781	SECTION 14. Section 32A-2-32 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993,
782	782	Chapter 77, Section 61, as amended) is amended to read:
783	783	"32A-2-32. CONFIDENTIALITY--RECORDS.--
784	784	A. All records pertaining to the child, including
785	785	all related social records, behavioral health screenings,
786	786	diagnostic evaluations, psychiatric reports, medical reports,
787	787	social studies reports, records from local detention
788	788	facilities, client-identifying records from facilities for the
789	789	care and rehabilitation of delinquent children, pre-parole or
790	790	supervised release reports and supervision histories obtained
791	791	by the juvenile probation office, parole officers and the
792	792	juvenile public safety advisory board or in possession of the
793	793	department, are confidential and shall not be disclosed
794	794	directly or indirectly to the public.
795	795	B. The disclosure of all mental health and
796	796	developmental disability records shall be made pursuant to the
797	797	Children's Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Act.
798	798	C. The records described in Subsection A of this
799	799	section, other than mental health and developmental disability
800	800	records, shall be disclosed only to any of the following,
801	801	provided that the agency, person or institution receiving
802	802	information shall not re-release the information without proper
803	803	consent or as otherwise provided by law:
804	804	(1) court personnel;
805	805	.229962.3
806	806	- 15 - underscored material = new
807	807	[bracketed material] = delete
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833	833	(2) the child's court appointed special
834	834	advocates;
835	835	(3) the child's attorney or guardian ad litem
836	836	representing the child in any matter;
837	837	(4) department personnel;
838	838	(5) corrections department personnel;
839	839	(6) law enforcement officials when the request
840	840	is related to the investigation of a crime;
841	841	(7) district attorneys or children's court
842	842	attorneys;
843	843	(8) a state government social services agency
844	844	in any state;
845	845	(9) those persons or entities of a child's
846	846	Indian tribe specifically authorized to inspect such records
847	847	pursuant to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, the
848	848	Indian Family Protection Act or any regulations promulgated
849	849	under [that act] those acts;
850	850	(10) tribal juvenile justice system and social
851	851	service representatives;
852	852	(11) a foster parent, if the records are those
853	853	of a child currently placed with that foster parent or of a
854	854	child being considered for placement with that foster parent,
855	855	when the disclosure of the information is necessary for the
856	856	child's treatment or care and shall include only that
857	857	information necessary to provide for treatment and care of the
858	858	.229962.3
859	859	- 16 - underscored material = new
860	860	[bracketed material] = delete
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886	886	child;
887	887	(12) school personnel involved with the child
888	888	if the records concern the child's educational needs, but shall
889	889	only include that information necessary to provide for the
890	890	child's educational planning and needs;
891	891	(13) a health care or mental health
892	892	professional involved in the evaluation or treatment of the
893	893	child, the child's parents, guardians or custodian or other
894	894	family members;
895	895	(14) representatives of the protection and
896	896	advocacy system;
897	897	(15) the child's parent, guardian or legal
898	898	custodian when the disclosure of the information is necessary
899	899	for the child's treatment or care and shall include only that
900	900	information necessary to provide for the treatment or care of
901	901	the child;
902	902	(16) any other person or entity, by order of
903	903	the court, having a legitimate interest in the case or the work
904	904	of the court who agrees not to otherwise release the records;
905	905	[and]
906	906	(17) the child, if fourteen years of age or
907	907	older; and
908	908	(18) the office of child ombud and its
909	909	employees and contractors, pursuant to the requirements of the
910	910	Delinquency Act, if the records are needed for the purpose of
911	911	.229962.3
912	912	- 17 - underscored material = new
913	913	[bracketed material] = delete
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939	939	implementing the Office of Child Ombud Act .
940	940	D. If disclosure of otherwise confidential records
941	941	is made to the child or any other person or entity pursuant to
942	942	a valid release of information signed by the child, all victim
943	943	or witness identifying information shall be redacted or
944	944	otherwise deleted.
945	945	E. Whoever intentionally and unlawfully releases
946	946	any information or records closed to the public pursuant to
947	947	this section or releases or makes other unlawful use of records
948	948	in violation of this section is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
949	949	F. The department shall promulgate rules for
950	950	implementing disclosure of records pursuant to this section and
951	951	in compliance with state and federal law and the Children's
952	952	Court Rules."
953	953	SECTION 15. Section 32A-4-33 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993,
954	954	Chapter 77, Section 127, as amended) is amended to read:
955	955	"32A-4-33. CONFIDENTIALITY--RECORDS--PENALTY.--
956	956	A. All records or information concerning a party to
957	957	a neglect or abuse proceeding, including social records,
958	958	diagnostic evaluations, psychiatric or psychological reports,
959	959	videotapes, transcripts and audio recordings of a child's
960	960	statement of abuse or medical reports incident to or obtained
961	961	as a result of a neglect or abuse proceeding or that were
962	962	produced or obtained during an investigation in anticipation of
963	963	or incident to a neglect or abuse proceeding shall be
964	964	.229962.3
965	965	- 18 - underscored material = new
966	966	[bracketed material] = delete
967	967	1
968	968	2
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992	992	confidential and closed to the public.
993	993	B. The records described in Subsection A of this
994	994	section shall be disclosed only to the parties and:
995	995	(1) court personnel and persons or entities
996	996	authorized by contract with the court to review, inspect or
997	997	otherwise have access to records or information in the court's
998	998	possession;
999	999	(2) court-appointed special advocates
1000	1000	appointed to the neglect or abuse proceeding;
1001	1001	(3) the child's guardian ad litem;
1002	1002	(4) the attorney representing the child in an
1003	1003	abuse or neglect action, a delinquency action or any other
1004	1004	action under the Children's Code;
1005	1005	(5) department personnel and persons or
1006	1006	entities authorized by contract with the department to review,
1007	1007	inspect or otherwise have access to records or information in
1008	1008	the department's possession;
1009	1009	(6) any local substitute care review board or
1010	1010	any agency contracted to implement local substitute care review
1011	1011	boards;
1012	1012	(7) law enforcement officials, except when use
1013	1013	immunity is granted pursuant to Section 32A-4-11 NMSA 1978;
1014	1014	(8) district attorneys, except when use
1015	1015	immunity is granted pursuant to Section 32A-4-11 NMSA 1978;
1016	1016	(9) any state government or tribal government
1017	1017	.229962.3
1018	1018	- 19 - underscored material = new
1019	1019	[bracketed material] = delete
1020	1020	1
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1045	1045	social services agency in any state or when, in the opinion of
1046	1046	the department, it is in the best interest of the child, a
1047	1047	governmental social services agency of another country;
1048	1048	(10) a foster parent, if the records are those
1049	1049	of a child currently placed with that foster parent or of a
1050	1050	child being considered for placement with that foster parent
1051	1051	and the records concern the social, medical, psychological or
1052	1052	educational needs of the child;
1053	1053	(11) school personnel involved with the child
1054	1054	if the records concern the child's social or educational needs;
1055	1055	(12) a grandparent, parent of a sibling,
1056	1056	relative or fictive kin, if the records or information pertain
1057	1057	to a child being considered for placement with that
1058	1058	grandparent, parent of a sibling, relative or fictive kin and
1059	1059	the records or information concern the social, medical,
1060	1060	psychological or educational needs of the child;
1061	1061	(13) health care or mental health
1062	1062	professionals involved in the evaluation or treatment of the
1063	1063	child or of the child's parents, guardian, custodian or other
1064	1064	family members;
1065	1065	(14) protection and advocacy representatives
1066	1066	pursuant to the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance
1067	1067	and Bill of Rights Act and the federal Protection and Advocacy
1068	1068	for Mentally Ill Individuals Amendments Act of 1991;
1069	1069	(15) children's safehouse organizations
1070	1070	.229962.3
1071	1071	- 20 - underscored material = new
1072	1072	[bracketed material] = delete
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1098	1098	conducting investigatory interviews of children on behalf of a
1099	1099	law enforcement agency or the department;
1100	1100	(16) representatives of the federal government
1101	1101	or their contractors authorized by federal statute or
1102	1102	regulation to review, inspect, audit or otherwise have access
1103	1103	to records and information pertaining to neglect or abuse
1104	1104	proceedings;
1105	1105	(17) any person or entity attending a meeting
1106	1106	arranged by the department to discuss the safety, well-being
1107	1107	and permanency of a child, when the parent or child, or parent
1108	1108	or legal custodian on behalf of a child younger than fourteen
1109	1109	years of age, has consented to the disclosure; [and ]
1110	1110	(18) any other person or entity, by order of
1111	1111	the court, having a legitimate interest in the case or the work
1112	1112	of the court; and
1113	1113	(19) the office of child ombud and its
1114	1114	employees and contractors, pursuant to the requirements of the
1115	1115	Abuse and Neglect Act, if the records are needed for the
1116	1116	purpose of implementing the Office of Child Ombud Act .
1117	1117	C. A parent, guardian or legal custodian whose
1118	1118	child has been the subject of an investigation of abuse or
1119	1119	neglect where no petition has been filed shall have the right
1120	1120	to inspect any medical report, psychological evaluation, law
1121	1121	enforcement reports or other investigative or diagnostic
1122	1122	evaluation; provided that any identifying information related
1123	1123	.229962.3
1124	1124	- 21 - underscored material = new
1125	1125	[bracketed material] = delete
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1151	1151	to the reporting party or any other party providing information
1152	1152	shall be deleted. The parent, guardian or legal custodian
1153	1153	shall also have the right to the results of the investigation
1154	1154	and the right to petition the court for full access to all
1155	1155	department records and information except those records and
1156	1156	information the department finds would be likely to endanger
1157	1157	the life or safety of any person providing information to the
1158	1158	department.
1159	1159	D. Whoever intentionally and unlawfully releases
1160	1160	any information or records closed to the public pursuant to the
1161	1161	Abuse and Neglect Act or releases or makes other unlawful use
1162	1162	of records in violation of that act is guilty of a petty
1163	1163	misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions
1164	1164	of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.
1165	1165	E. The department shall promulgate rules for
1166	1166	implementing disclosure of records pursuant to this section and
1167	1167	in compliance with state and federal law and the Children's
1168	1168	Court Rules."
1169	1169	SECTION 16. APPROPRIATION.--One million dollars
1170	1170	($1,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the
1171	1171	administrative office of the courts for expenditure in fiscal
1172	1172	year 2026 for expenses to be incurred in establishing the
1173	1173	office of child ombud. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance
1174	1174	remaining at the end of fiscal year 2026 shall revert to the
1175	1175	general fund.
1176	1176	.229962.3
1177	1177	- 22 - underscored material = new
1178	1178	[bracketed material] = delete
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1204	1204	SECTION 17. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
1205	1205	provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.
1206	1206	- 23 -
1207	1207	.229962.3