New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico Senate Bill SB491 Compare Versions

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

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28	28	SENATE BILL 491
29	29	57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2025
30	30	INTRODUCED BY
31	31	Linda M. López
32	32	AN ACT
33	33	RELATING TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION; ADDING THE OFFICE OF FAMILY
34	34	REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY TO THE DEFINITION OF "PUBLIC
35	35	SERVICE EMPLOYMENT" FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW LOAN REPAYMENT
36	36	ACT; ADDING THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF FAMILY REPRESENTATION
37	37	AND ADVOCACY TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW ADVISORY COMMITTEE;
38	38	ENACTING THE CHILD AND FAMILY WELFARE WORKER LOAN REPAYMENT
39	39	ACT; PROVIDING POWERS AND DUTIES; CREATING THE CHILD AND FAMILY
40	40	WELFARE WORKER LOAN REPAYMENT FUND; REQUIRING REPORTS; AMENDING
41	41	THE ASSIGNMENT OF COUNSEL IN CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS; PROVIDING
42	42	WAIVERS; PROVIDING FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN OF
43	43	INDIGENT OR SIMILARLY SITUATED PARENTS; MAKING AN
44	44	APPROPRIATION.
45	45	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
46	46	SECTION 1. Section 21-22F-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2005,
47	47	.231138.1 underscored material = new
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74	74	Chapter 83, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:
75	75	"21-22F-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Public Service
76	76	Law Loan Repayment Act:
77	77	A. "committee" means the public service law
78	78	advisory committee;
79	79	B. "department" means the higher education
80	80	department;
81	81	C. "legal education" means education at an
82	82	accredited law school and any bar review preparation courses
83	83	for the state bar examination;
84	84	D. "loan" means money allocated to defray the costs
85	85	incidental to a legal education under a contract between the
86	86	federal government or a commercial lender and a law school
87	87	student, requiring either repayment of principal and interest
88	88	or repayment in services;
89	89	E. "participating attorney" means an attorney who
90	90	receives a loan repayment award from the department pursuant to
91	91	the provisions of the Public Service Law Loan Repayment Act;
92	92	and
93	93	F. "public service employment" means employment
94	94	with:
95	95	(1) an organization that is exempt from
96	96	taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the
97	97	United States Code and that provides for the care and
98	98	maintenance of indigent persons in New Mexico through civil
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127	127	legal services;
128	128	(2) the public defender department; [or ]
129	129	(3) a New Mexico district attorney's office;
130	130	or
131	131	(4) the office of family representation and
132	132	advocacy."
133	133	SECTION 2. Section 21-22F-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2005,
134	134	Chapter 83, Section 8) is amended to read:
135	135	"21-22F-8. PUBLIC SERVICE LAW ADVISORY COMMITTEE--
136	136	CREATED--DUTIES.--
137	137	A. The "public service law advisory committee" is
138	138	created to advise the [commission ] higher education department
139	139	on matters relating to the administration of the Public Service
140	140	Law Loan Repayment Act.
141	141	B. The committee is composed of:
142	142	(1) the dean of the university of New Mexico
143	143	law school or the dean's designee;
144	144	(2) the executive director of New Mexico legal
145	145	aid or the director's designee who shall be an attorney
146	146	employed with an organization that is exempt from taxation
147	147	pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States
148	148	Code and that provides civil legal services to indigent persons
149	149	in New Mexico;
150	150	(3) the chief public defender or the chief's
151	151	designee;
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180	180	(4) a district attorney appointed by the New
181	181	Mexico district attorneys association; [and ]
182	182	(5) the director of the office of family
183	183	representation and advocacy or the director's designee; and
184	184	[(5)] (6) a financial aid or career services
185	185	officer of the university of New Mexico law school designated
186	186	by the dean.
187	187	C. The committee shall:
188	188	(1) make recommendations to the [commission ]
189	189	department on applicants for the public service law loan
190	190	repayment program;
191	191	(2) advise the [commission ] department on the
192	192	adoption of rules to implement the provisions of the Public
193	193	Service Law Loan Repayment Act; and
194	194	(3) give advice or other assistance to the
195	195	[commission] department as requested."
196	196	SECTION 3. A new Section 21-22J-1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to
197	197	read:
198	198	"21-22J-1. [NEW MATERIAL ] SHORT TITLE.--Sections 3
199	199	through 9 of this act may be cited as the "Child and Family
200	200	Welfare Worker Loan Repayment Act"."
201	201	SECTION 4. A new Section 21-22J-2 NMSA 1978 is enacted to
202	202	read:
203	203	"21-22J-2. [NEW MATERIAL ] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the
204	204	Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan Repayment Act:
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233	233	A. "applicant" means a person applying for an
234	234	award;
235	235	B. "award" means the grant of money to repay loans;
236	236	C. "critical field" means social work or other
237	237	academic field of study that leads to a bachelor's or master's
238	238	degree and that the office of family representation and
239	239	advocacy has determined to be critical to the work of the
240	240	interdisciplinary services division of the office of family
241	241	representation and advocacy;
242	242	D. "department" means the higher education
243	243	department;
244	244	E. "fund" means the child and family welfare worker
245	245	loan repayment fund;
246	246	F. "loan" means a grant of money under contract
247	247	between a student and the federal government or a commercial
248	248	lender to defray the costs incidental to an undergraduate or
249	249	master's level education in a critical field and that requires
250	250	either repayment of principal and interest or repayment in
251	251	services;
252	252	G. "office" means the office of family
253	253	representation and advocacy;
254	254	H. "program" means the office of family
255	255	representation and advocacy public service worker loan
256	256	repayment program, which provides money to repay student loans
257	257	in a critical field; and
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286	286	I. "public service worker" means an employee of the
287	287	office with a completed bachelor's or master's degree in a
288	288	critical field who works directly with children and families in
289	289	the interdisciplinary services division of the office. The
290	290	office shall provide an annual list to the department of job
291	291	classifications that qualify as "public service workers" for
292	292	the purposes of the Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan
293	293	Repayment Act."
294	294	SECTION 5. A new Section 21-22J-3 NMSA 1978 is enacted to
295	295	read:
296	296	"21-22J-3. [NEW MATERIAL ] POWERS AND DUTIES.--
297	297	A. The department may:
298	298	(1) grant an award to repay loans obtained for
299	299	a public service worker upon such terms and conditions as may
300	300	be imposed by rule of the department; and
301	301	(2) delegate to other agencies or contract for
302	302	the performance of services required by the program.
303	303	B. An applicant shall be a public service worker
304	304	before applying for the program."
305	305	SECTION 6. A new Section 21-22J-4 NMSA 1978 is enacted to
306	306	read:
307	307	"21-22J-4. [NEW MATERIAL ] AWARDS--CRITERIA--CONTRACT
308	308	TERMS.--
309	309	A. Prior to receiving an award, a public service
310	310	worker shall file an application with the department that meets
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339	339	the criteria established by rule of the department.
340	340	B. The following debts are not eligible for
341	341	repayment pursuant to the Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan
342	342	Repayment Act:
343	343	(1) amounts incurred as a result of
344	344	participation in state loan-for-service programs or other state
345	345	programs whose purpose states that service be provided in
346	346	exchange for financial assistance;
347	347	(2) scholarships that have a service component
348	348	or obligation;
349	349	(3) personal loans from friends or relatives;
350	350	(4) loans that exceed individual standard
351	351	school expense levels; and
352	352	(5) loans that are eligible for another state
353	353	or federal loan repayment program.
354	354	C. Award criteria shall provide that:
355	355	(1) the applicant has satisfactorily completed
356	356	at least one year of service with the office as a public
357	357	service worker;
358	358	(2) the percentage of repayment directly
359	359	relates to years of service completed as a public service
360	360	worker;
361	361	(3) the highest priority shall be given to
362	362	public service workers who work in geographic areas or division
363	363	positions where vacancies are difficult to fill, as determined
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392	392	by the director of the office;
393	393	(4) award amounts may be modified based on
394	394	available funding or other special circumstances; and
395	395	(5) an award for each public service worker
396	396	shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or the
397	397	loan indebtedness of the worker, whichever is less.
398	398	D. Every loan repayment award shall be evidenced by
399	399	a contract between the public service worker and the department
400	400	working on behalf of the state. The contract shall provide for
401	401	the payment by the state of a stated sum to the public service
402	402	worker's federal government or commercial lender and shall
403	403	state the obligations of the public service worker under the
404	404	program as established by the department.
405	405	E. The contract between a public service worker and
406	406	the department shall provide that, if the public service worker
407	407	does not comply with the terms of the contract, the public
408	408	service worker shall reimburse the department for all loan
409	409	payments made on the public service worker's behalf, plus
410	410	reasonable interest at a rate to be determined by the
411	411	department, unless the department finds acceptable extenuating
412	412	circumstances for why the public service worker cannot serve or
413	413	comply with the terms of the contract.
414	414	F. Loan repayment awards shall be in the form of
415	415	payments from the fund directly to the federal government or
416	416	commercial lender of a public service worker who has received
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445	445	the award and shall be considered a payment on behalf of the
446	446	public service worker pursuant to the contract between the
447	447	department and the public service worker. A loan repayment
448	448	award shall not obligate the state or the department to a
449	449	public service worker's lender for any other payment and shall
450	450	not be considered to create any privity of contract between the
451	451	state or the department and the lender.
452	452	G. The department, after consulting with the
453	453	office, shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of the
454	454	Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan Repayment Act. The rules:
455	455	(1) shall provide a procedure for determining
456	456	the amount of a loan that shall be repaid; and
457	457	(2) may provide for the disbursement of loan
458	458	repayment awards to the lender in annual or other periodic
459	459	installments."
460	460	SECTION 7. A new Section 21-22J-5 NMSA 1978 is enacted to
461	461	read:
462	462	"21-22J-5. [NEW MATERIAL ] CONTRACTS--ENFORCEMENT--
463	463	CANCELLATION.--
464	464	A. The general form of a contract required pursuant
465	465	to the Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan Repayment Act shall
466	466	be prepared and approved by the department's general counsel,
467	467	and each contract shall be signed by the public service worker
468	468	and the secretary of higher education or the secretary's
469	469	authorized representative on behalf of the state. The
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498	498	department is vested with full and complete authority and power
499	499	to sue in its own name for any balance due the state from a
500	500	public service worker under a loan repayment contract.
501	501	B. The department may cancel a contract made
502	502	between the department and a public service worker pursuant to
503	503	the Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan Repayment Act for any
504	504	reasonable cause deemed sufficient by the department."
505	505	SECTION 8. A new Section 21-22J-6 NMSA 1978 is enacted to
506	506	read:
507	507	"21-22J-6. [NEW MATERIAL ] CHILD AND FAMILY WELFARE WORKER
508	508	LOAN REPAYMENT FUND CREATED.--The "child and family welfare
509	509	worker loan repayment fund" is created in the state treasury.
510	510	The fund consists of appropriations, repayment of awards and
511	511	interest received by the department, income from investment of
512	512	the fund, gifts, grants and donations. The fund shall be
513	513	administered by the department, and money in the fund is
514	514	appropriated to the department to make loan repayment awards
515	515	pursuant to the Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan Repayment
516	516	Act. Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not
517	517	revert to any other fund. All payments for loan repayment
518	518	awards shall be made on warrants of the secretary of finance
519	519	and administration on vouchers signed by the secretary of
520	520	higher education or the secretary's authorized representative."
521	521	SECTION 9. A new Section 21-22J-7 NMSA 1978 is enacted to
522	522	read:
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551	551	"21-22J-7. [NEW MATERIAL ] REPORTS.--The department shall
552	552	make annual reports to the governor and the legislature prior
553	553	to each regular legislative session of its activities, the loan
554	554	repayment awards granted and the title and job duties of each
555	555	award recipient. The report shall also include any contract
556	556	cancellations and any enforcement actions that the department
557	557	has taken."
558	558	SECTION 10. Section 32A-1-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993,
559	559	Chapter 77, Section 13, as amended) is amended to read:
560	560	"32A-1-4. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Children's Code:
561	561	A. "active efforts" means efforts that are
562	562	affirmative, active, thorough and timely and that represent a
563	563	higher standard of conduct than reasonable efforts;
564	564	B. "adult" means a person who is eighteen years of
565	565	age or older;
566	566	C. "child" means a person who is less than eighteen
567	567	years old;
568	568	D. "council" means the substitute care advisory
569	569	council established pursuant to Section 32A-8-4 NMSA 1978;
570	570	E. "court", when used without further
571	571	qualification, means the children's court division of the
572	572	district court and includes the judge, special master or
573	573	commissioner appointed pursuant to the provisions of the
574	574	Children's Code or supreme court rule;
575	575	F. "court-appointed special advocate" means a
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604	604	person appointed pursuant to the provisions of the Children's
605	605	Court Rules to assist the court in determining the best
606	606	interests of the child by investigating the case and submitting
607	607	a report to the court;
608	608	G. "custodian" means an adult with whom the child
609	609	lives who is not a parent or guardian of the child;
610	610	H. "department" means the children, youth and
611	611	families department, unless otherwise specified;
612	612	I. "disproportionate minority contact" means the
613	613	involvement of a racial or ethnic group with the criminal or
614	614	juvenile justice system at a proportion either higher or lower
615	615	than that group's proportion in the general population;
616	616	J. "federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978" means
617	617	the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, as that act may
618	618	be amended or its sections renumbered;
619	619	K. "foster parent" means a person, including a
620	620	relative of the child, licensed or certified by the department
621	621	or a child placement agency to provide care for children in the
622	622	custody of the department or agency;
623	623	L. "guardian" means a person appointed as a
624	624	guardian by a court or Indian tribal authority;
625	625	M. "guardian ad litem" means an attorney appointed
626	626	by the children's court to represent and protect the best
627	627	interests of the child in a case; provided that no party or
628	628	employee or representative of a party to the case shall be
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657	657	appointed to serve as a guardian ad litem;
658	658	N. "Indian" means, whether an adult or child, a
659	659	person who is:
660	660	(1) a member of an Indian tribe; or
661	661	(2) eligible for membership in an Indian
662	662	tribe;
663	663	O. "Indian child" means an Indian person, or a
664	664	person whom there is reason to know is an Indian person, under
665	665	eighteen years of age, who is neither:
666	666	(1) married; or
667	667	(2) emancipated;
668	668	P. "Indian child's tribe" means:
669	669	(1) the Indian tribe in which an Indian child
670	670	is a member or eligible for membership; or
671	671	(2) in the case of an Indian child who is a
672	672	member or eligible for membership in more than one tribe, the
673	673	Indian tribe with which the Indian child has more significant
674	674	contacts;
675	675	Q. "Indian custodian" means an Indian who, pursuant
676	676	to tribal law or custom or pursuant to state law:
677	677	(1) is an adult with legal custody of an
678	678	Indian child; or
679	679	(2) has been transferred temporary physical
680	680	care, custody and control by the parent of the Indian child;
681	681	R. "Indian tribe" means an Indian nation, tribe,
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710	710	pueblo or other band, organized group or community of Indians
711	711	recognized as eligible for the services provided to Indians by
712	712	the secretary because of their status as Indians, including an
713	713	Alaska native village as defined in 43 U.S.C. Section 1602(c)
714	714	or a regional corporation as defined in 43 U.S.C. Section 1606.
715	715	For the purposes of notification to and communication with a
716	716	tribe as required in the Indian Family Protection Act, "Indian
717	717	tribe" also includes those tribal officials and staff who are
718	718	responsible for child welfare and social services matters;
719	719	S. "judge", when used without further
720	720	qualification, means the judge of the court;
721	721	T. "legal custody" means a legal status created by
722	722	order of the court or other court of competent jurisdiction or
723	723	by operation of statute that vests in a person, department or
724	724	agency the right to determine where and with whom a child shall
725	725	live; the right and duty to protect, train and discipline the
726	726	child and to provide the child with food, shelter, personal
727	727	care, education and ordinary and emergency medical care; the
728	728	right to consent to major medical, psychiatric, psychological
729	729	and surgical treatment and to the administration of legally
730	730	prescribed psychotropic medications pursuant to the Children's
731	731	Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Act; and the right
732	732	to consent to the child's enlistment in the armed forces of the
733	733	United States;
734	734	U. "member" or "membership" means a determination
735	735	.231138.1
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763	763	made by an Indian tribe that a person is a member of or
764	764	eligible for membership in that Indian tribe;
765	765	V. "office" means the office of family
766	766	representation and advocacy, unless otherwise specified;
767	767	[V.] W. "parent" or "parents" means a biological or
768	768	adoptive parent if the biological or adoptive parent has a
769	769	constitutionally protected liberty interest in the care and
770	770	custody of the child or a person who has lawfully adopted an
771	771	Indian child pursuant to state law or tribal law or tribal
772	772	custom;
773	773	[W.] X. "permanency plan" means a determination by
774	774	the court that the child's interest will be served best by:
775	775	(1) reunification;
776	776	(2) placement for adoption after the parents'
777	777	rights have been relinquished or terminated or after a motion
778	778	has been filed to terminate parental rights;
779	779	(3) placement with a person who will be the
780	780	child's permanent guardian;
781	781	(4) placement in the legal custody of the
782	782	department with the child placed in the home of a fit and
783	783	willing relative; or
784	784	(5) placement in the legal custody of the
785	785	department under a planned permanent living arrangement;
786	786	[X.] Y. "person" means an individual or any other
787	787	form of entity recognized by law;
788	788	.231138.1
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816	816	[Y.] Z. "plan of care" means a plan created by a
817	817	health care professional intended to ensure the safety and
818	818	well-being of a substance-exposed newborn by addressing the
819	819	treatment needs of the child and any of the child's parents,
820	820	relatives, guardians, family members or caregivers to the
821	821	extent those treatment needs are relevant to the safety of the
822	822	child;
823	823	[Z.] AA. "preadoptive parent" means a person with
824	824	whom a child has been placed for adoption;
825	825	[AA.] BB. "protective supervision" means the right
826	826	to visit the child in the home where the child is residing,
827	827	inspect the home, transport the child to court-ordered
828	828	diagnostic examinations and evaluations and obtain information
829	829	and records concerning the child;
830	830	[BB.] CC. "relative" means a person related to
831	831	another person:
832	832	(1) by blood within the fifth degree of
833	833	consanguinity or through marriage by the fifth degree of
834	834	affinity; or
835	835	(2) with respect to an Indian child, as
836	836	established or defined by the Indian child's tribe's custom or
837	837	law;
838	838	[CC.] DD. "reservation" means:
839	839	(1) "Indian country" as defined in 18 U.S.C.
840	840	Section 1151;
841	841	.231138.1
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869	869	(2) any lands to which the title is held by
870	870	the United States in trust for the benefit of an Indian tribe
871	871	or individual; or
872	872	(3) any lands held by an Indian tribe or
873	873	individual subject to a restriction by the United States
874	874	against alienation;
875	875	[DD.] EE. "reunification" means either a return of
876	876	the child to the parent or to the home from which the child was
877	877	removed or a return to the noncustodial parent;
878	878	[EE.] FF. "secretary" means the United States
879	879	secretary of the interior;
880	880	[FF.] GG. "tribal court" means a court with
881	881	jurisdiction over child custody proceedings that is either a
882	882	court of Indian offenses, a court established and operated
883	883	under the law or custom of an Indian tribe or any other
884	884	administrative body that is vested by an Indian tribe with
885	885	authority over child custody proceedings;
886	886	[GG.] HH. "tribal court order" means a document
887	887	issued by a tribal court that is signed by an appropriate
888	888	authority, including a judge, governor or tribal council
889	889	member, and that orders an action that is within the tribal
890	890	court's jurisdiction; and
891	891	[HH.] II. "tribunal" means any judicial forum other
892	892	than the court."
893	893	SECTION 11. Section 32A-4-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993,
894	894	.231138.1
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922	922	Chapter 77, Section 104, as amended) is amended to read:
923	923	"32A-4-10. BASIC RIGHTS.--
924	924	A. A child subject to the provisions of the
925	925	Children's Code is entitled to the same basic rights as an
926	926	adult, except as otherwise provided in the Children's Code.
927	927	B. At the inception of an abuse or neglect
928	928	proceeding, the court shall appoint the office to represent or
929	929	to assign counsel [shall be appointed ] for the parent, guardian
930	930	or custodian of the child. The appointed office or assigned
931	931	counsel shall represent the parent, guardian or custodian who
932	932	is named as a party until an indigency determination is made by
933	933	the court at the custody hearing. [Counsel shall also be
934	934	appointed] The court shall also appoint the office if, in the
935	935	court's discretion, appointment of counsel is required in the
936	936	interest of justice.
937	937	C. At the inception of an abuse and neglect
938	938	proceeding, the court shall appoint the office to represent or
939	939	to assign a guardian ad litem for a child under fourteen years
940	940	of age. If the child is fourteen years of age or older, the
941	941	court shall appoint the office to represent or to assign an
942	942	attorney for the child. No officer or employee of an agency
943	943	that is vested with the legal custody of the child shall be
944	944	[appointed] assigned as guardian ad litem of or attorney for
945	945	the child. Only an attorney with appropriate experience shall
946	946	be [appointed] assigned as guardian ad litem of or attorney for
947	947	.231138.1
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974	974	25
975	975	the child.
976	976	D. When reasonable and appropriate, the [court ]
977	977	office shall [appoint] assign a guardian ad litem or attorney
978	978	who is knowledgeable about the child's particular cultural
979	979	background.
980	980	E. When a child reaches fourteen years of age, the
981	981	child's guardian ad litem shall continue as the child's
982	982	attorney; provided that the [court ] office shall [appoint]
983	983	assign a different attorney for the child if:
984	984	(1) the child requests a different attorney;
985	985	(2) the guardian ad litem requests to be
986	986	removed; or
987	987	(3) the [court] office determines that the
988	988	[appointment] assignment of a different attorney is
989	989	appropriate.
990	990	F. The court and the office shall assure that the
991	991	child's guardian ad litem zealously represents the child's best
992	992	interest and that the child's attorney zealously represents the
993	993	child.
994	994	G. A person afforded rights under the Children's
995	995	Code shall be advised of those rights at that person's first
996	996	appearance before the court on a petition under the Children's
997	997	Code.
998	998	H. Any adult entitled to representation by the
999	999	office may knowingly and intelligently waive the right to
1000	1000	.231138.1
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1028	1028	representation. The waiver may be for all or any part of the
1029	1029	proceedings. The waiver shall be in writing and countersigned
1030	1030	by the person's assigned or appointed attorney. "
1031	1031	SECTION 12. A new Section 32A-4-10.1 NMSA 1978 is enacted
1032	1032	to read:
1033	1033	"32A-4-10.1. [NEW MATERIAL ] APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL NOT
1034	1034	CONTRACTED WITH OR EMPLOYED BY THE OFFICE OF FAMILY
1035	1035	REPRESENTATION AND ADVOCACY--AUTHORITY TO PAY COURT COSTS AND
1036	1036	EXPENSES FOR GUARDIANS AD LITEM AND COUNSEL APPOINTED BY THE
1037	1037	COURT.--
1038	1038	A. The office may seek appointment of attorneys not
1039	1039	contracted with the office to represent children and indigent
1040	1040	parents, guardians or custodians when the director of the
1041	1041	office determines that no office staff or contract attorneys
1042	1042	are available.
1043	1043	B. The costs associated with this appointment shall
1044	1044	be a charge upon the funds of the office. These costs shall
1045	1045	include:
1046	1046	(1) compensation equivalent to that of
1047	1047	attorneys contracted with the office; and
1048	1048	(2) the reasonable expenses of service of
1049	1049	summonses, notices, subpoenas, traveling expenses of witnesses
1050	1050	and other like expenses incurred in the appointed
1051	1051	representation, at rates commensurate with those paid by the
1052	1052	office for cases involving contractors.
1053	1053	.231138.1
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1081	1081	C. The office is authorized to pay the costs
1082	1082	associated with the court appointment of guardians ad litem and
1083	1083	counsel appointed by the court:
1084	1084	(1) pursuant to this section from the date of
1085	1085	appointment without approval by the secretary of general
1086	1086	services; and
1087	1087	(2) to serve in cases under the Abuse and
1088	1088	Neglect Act or the Fostering Connections Act before the
1089	1089	establishment of the office for services provided after July 1,
1090	1090	2023, without approval by the secretary of general services.
1091	1091	D. For the purposes of Subsection C of this
1092	1092	section, the office is authorized to pay the following costs
1093	1093	associated with court appointment:
1094	1094	(1) compensation equivalent to that of
1095	1095	attorneys contracted with the office; and
1096	1096	(2) the reasonable expenses of service of
1097	1097	summonses, notices, subpoenas, traveling expenses of witnesses
1098	1098	and other like expenses incurred in the appointed
1099	1099	representation at rates commensurate with those paid by the
1100	1100	office for cases involving contractors."
1101	1101	SECTION 13. Section 32A-26-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019,
1102	1102	Chapter 149, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:
1103	1103	"32A-26-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Fostering
1104	1104	Connections Act:
1105	1105	A. "active efforts" means a heightened standard
1106	1106	.231138.1
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1134	1134	that is greater than reasonable efforts that include
1135	1135	affirmative, active, thorough and timely efforts;
1136	1136	B. "eligible adult" means an individual who meets
1137	1137	the eligibility criteria for participation in the fostering
1138	1138	connections program;
1139	1139	C. "foster care maintenance payment" means a
1140	1140	payment for the care and support of an eligible adult, which is
1141	1141	based on the needs of the eligible adult;
1142	1142	D. "host home" means a setting in an eligible
1143	1143	adult's former foster home or in another residence in which an
1144	1144	eligible adult:
1145	1145	(1) shares a residence with another adult or
1146	1146	adults; and
1147	1147	(2) agrees to meet the basic expectations
1148	1148	established by the:
1149	1149	(a) eligible adult;
1150	1150	(b) other adult or adults sharing the
1151	1151	residence; and
1152	1152	(c) department;
1153	1153	E. "office" means the office of family
1154	1154	representation and advocacy;
1155	1155	[E.] F. "placement and care" means the day-to-day
1156	1156	care and protection of the child or eligible adult, including
1157	1157	responsibility for placement decisions about the child or
1158	1158	eligible adult;
1159	1159	.231138.1
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1187	1187	[F.] G. "supervised independent living setting"
1188	1188	means an age-appropriate setting that the department approves
1189	1189	for placement of an eligible adult, which setting:
1190	1190	(1) is consistent with federal law and
1191	1191	guidance for a supervised setting in which an eligible adult
1192	1192	lives independently; and
1193	1193	(2) may be a residence where the eligible
1194	1194	adult lives alone or shares a residence with others, including:
1195	1195	(a) a host home;
1196	1196	(b) a college dormitory or other post-
1197	1197	secondary education or training housing; or
1198	1198	(c) the home of a parent of the eligible
1199	1199	adult;
1200	1200	[G.] H. "transition plan" means a written,
1201	1201	individualized plan developed collaboratively between the
1202	1202	department and the eligible adult that assesses the eligible
1203	1203	adult's strengths and needs, establishes goals and identifies
1204	1204	the services and activities that will be provided to the
1205	1205	eligible adult to achieve the established goals, the time
1206	1206	frames for achieving the goals and the individuals or entities
1207	1207	responsible for providing the identified services and
1208	1208	activities as provided by rule;
1209	1209	[H.] I. "voluntary services and support agreement"
1210	1210	means a written agreement, binding on the parties to the
1211	1211	agreement, between the department and an eligible adult, which
1212	1212	.231138.1
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1240	1240	agreement is consistent with the requirements of a voluntary
1241	1241	placement agreement pursuant to federal law and which
1242	1242	specifies, at a minimum, the legal status of the eligible adult
1243	1243	and the rights and obligations of the eligible adult and the
1244	1244	department while the eligible adult is participating in the
1245	1245	fostering connections program; and
1246	1246	[I.] J. "young adult" means an individual who is at
1247	1247	least eighteen years of age and who is under twenty-one years
1248	1248	of age and is not currently participating in the fostering
1249	1249	connections program pursuant to Section 32A-26-3 NMSA 1978."
1250	1250	SECTION 14. Section 32A-26-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2019,
1251	1251	Chapter 149, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:
1252	1252	"32A-26-7. FOSTERING CONNECTIONS PROGRAM--CHILDREN'S
1253	1253	COURT PETITION--JURISDICTION--CONTENTS--PROGRAM FILE.--
1254	1254	A. An eligible adult participating in the fostering
1255	1255	connections program shall remain under the jurisdiction of the
1256	1256	children's court while participating in the program. The
1257	1257	eligible adult is the eligible adult's own legal custodian.
1258	1258	B. Within fifteen days after the voluntary services
1259	1259	and support agreement is executed, the department shall file a
1260	1260	petition initiating proceedings pursuant to the Fostering
1261	1261	Connections Act that shall be entitled, "In the Matter of . . .
1262	1262	. . . . . . , an eligible adult", and shall set forth with
1263	1263	specificity:
1264	1264	(1) the name, birth date and residence of the
1265	1265	.231138.1
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1293	1293	eligible adult; and
1294	1294	(2) the facts necessary to invoke the
1295	1295	jurisdiction of the court.
1296	1296	C. A petition filed pursuant to Subsection B of
1297	1297	this section shall be accompanied by a copy of the eligible
1298	1298	adult's voluntary services and support agreement and transition
1299	1299	plan.
1300	1300	D. There shall be no interruption in the foster
1301	1301	care maintenance payment, housing, medical assistance coverage
1302	1302	or case management for an eligible adult who is eligible and
1303	1303	chooses to participate in the fostering connections program
1304	1304	immediately following the termination of children's court
1305	1305	jurisdiction at age eighteen.
1306	1306	E. At the inception of a fostering connections
1307	1307	proceeding, the court shall appoint [an attorney ] the office to
1308	1308	represent or to assign an attorney to represent the eligible
1309	1309	adult. If the eligible adult consents, the attorney who
1310	1310	previously served as the eligible adult's attorney may be
1311	1311	[appointed] assigned by the office.
1312	1312	F. Any eligible adult entitled to representation by
1313	1313	the office may knowingly and intelligently waive the right to
1314	1314	representation. The waiver may be for all or any part of the
1315	1315	proceedings. The waiver shall be in writing and countersigned
1316	1316	by the person's assigned or appointed attorney.
1317	1317	[F.] G. Until excused by a court, the office or an
1318	1318	.231138.1
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1346	1346	attorney [appointed] assigned to represent an eligible adult
1347	1347	shall represent the eligible adult in any subsequent appeals.
1348	1348	[G.] H. A hearing held pursuant to the Fostering
1349	1349	Connections Act shall be commenced within ninety days of the
1350	1350	filing of the petition, at which time the court shall review
1351	1351	the voluntary services and support agreement and determine
1352	1352	whether the agreement is in the best interests of the eligible
1353	1353	adult and the transition plan meets the requirements of the
1354	1354	Fostering Connections Act."
1355	1355	SECTION 15. Section 32A-27-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2022,
1356	1356	Chapter 51, Section 2) is amended to read:
1357	1357	"32A-27-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Family
1358	1358	Representation and Advocacy Act:
1359	1359	A. "at risk of being placed" means conditions
1360	1360	within a child's family may require the child be removed from
1361	1361	the custody of a parent, custodian or guardian and placed in
1362	1362	the legal custody of the children, youth and families
1363	1363	department;
1364	1364	B. "client" means:
1365	1365	(1) an eligible adult pursuant to the
1366	1366	Fostering Connections Act;
1367	1367	(2) a child who is, or is at risk of, being
1368	1368	placed in the legal custody of the children, youth and families
1369	1369	department; or
1370	1370	(3) [a] an indigent parent, custodian or
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1399	1399	guardian of a child who is, or is at risk of, being placed in
1400	1400	the legal custody of the children, youth and families
1401	1401	department or a similarly situated parent, custodian or
1402	1402	guardian who is not indigent but whom the court has determined
1403	1403	requires counsel to be assigned in the interest of justice ;
1404	1404	C. "commission" means the family representation and
1405	1405	advocacy commission that provides oversight of the office of
1406	1406	family representation and advocacy;
1407	1407	D. "director" means the director of the office of
1408	1408	family representation and advocacy; and
1409	1409	E. "office" means the office of family
1410	1410	representation and advocacy."
1411	1411	SECTION 16. Section 32A-27-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2022,
1412	1412	Chapter 51, Section 3) is amended to read:
1413	1413	"32A-27-3. OFFICE CREATED--DUTIES.--
1414	1414	A. The "office of family representation and
1415	1415	advocacy" is created as an adjunct agency pursuant to Section
1416	1416	9-1-6 NMSA 1978 and shall be overseen by the commission.
1417	1417	B. The office shall:
1418	1418	(1) work closely with the children, youth and
1419	1419	families department to leverage federal funding pursuant to
1420	1420	Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act; and
1421	1421	(2) [appoint] assign, compensate, evaluate and
1422	1422	retain attorneys and other staff to provide legal
1423	1423	representation for eligible adults under the Fostering
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1452	1452	Connections Act, [and ] for children and indigent parents,
1453	1453	custodians or guardians whose children are, or are at risk of
1454	1454	being placed, in the legal custody of the children, youth and
1455	1455	families department and for similarly situated parents,
1456	1456	guardians and custodians who are not indigent but whom the
1457	1457	court determines require counsel to be assigned in the interest
1458	1458	of justice."
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