Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Padilla
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 1/28/2025
SHORT TITLE Fostering Connections Program Eligibility
BILL
NUMBER Senate Bill 6
ANALYST Garcia
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
(dollars in thousands)
Agency/Program
FY25 FY26 FY27
3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected CYFD (Fostering
Connections)
Up to $30.0 Up to $30.0 Up to $30.0 Up to $90.0 Recurring General Fund
Total Up to $30.0 Up to $30.0 Up to $30.0 Up to $90.0 Recurring General Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
Agency Analysis Received From
Office of Family Representation and Advocacy (OFRA)
Agency Analysis was Solicited but Not Received From
Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Senate Bill 6
Senate Bill 6 (SB6) amends the Fostering Connections Act (32A-26-1 through 32A-36-12
NMSA 1978) to remove the requirement that a youth to be adjudicated pursuant to the
Children’s Code or tribal law prior to being eligible for the Children, Youth and Families
Department’s (CYFD) Fostering Connections Program. SB6 expands eligibility to youth who
were in CYFD custody but not adjudicated or under a voluntary placement agreement. In
addition, the bill pushes forward in time by one year the dates in statute that serve as the cutoff
point for the age of eligibility to maintain eligibility up to the age of 21.
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
No appropriation is contained within the bill.
For analysis submitted for a similar bill during the 2024 legislative session, CYFD noted no Senate Bill 6 – Page 2
fiscal impact to the department. CYFD already has an extended foster care program in place and
is able to draw down federal Title IV-E funds to cover the costs associated with this service
population. Additionally, the agency has received general fund and Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF) funding to support the Fostering Connections Program. At that time,
CYFD estimated any additional costs could be absorbed by existing resources.
In March 2024, the governor issued an executive order that rendered the population of young
adults considered in this bill eligible for the Fostering Connections Program. At that time, CYFD
estimated expanding the Fostering Connections population by 10 to 20 adults. Given the
relatively small number of adults who might now be eligible for the Fostering Connections
Program because of this bill (roughly 10 to 20 adults), the LFC estimates the fiscal impact of this
bill to be minimal and up to roughly $30 thousand in general fund annually.
In addition, the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy (OFRA) noted the bill may result
in a relatively small increase in Extended Foster Care petitions (an estimated 10 annually) and
the corresponding need to appoint counsel by OFRA to represent these adults. However, OFRA
reports the financial impact will be minimal and can be absorbed within the agency’s existing
budget.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
According to the federal Administration for Children and Families, youth aging out of foster care
experience considerable challenges. One in four adults who age out will experience
homelessness by age 19, one in five will be incarcerated by age 19, and one in 10 will become
parents by age 19. Additionally, just 57 percent of adults who age out of foster care report being
employed at age 21.
In 2019, the Legislature adopted the Fostering Connections Act, which created an extended
foster care program and extended the available age for support and services to young adults
involved with CYFD from age 18 to age 21. Extended support programs include supportive
housing, connections to community-based behavioral health services, job assistance, food access,
and financial assistance for higher education. The Fostering Connections Program is voluntary,
and young adults who age out of foster care are not required to receive services.
In FY23, CYFD reported that roughly 280 young adults received in-home services through the
Fostering Connections Program, roughly 58 young adults participated in extended foster care
behavioral health service coordination, and roughly 34 young adults received transitional living
supportive housing.
Currently, young adults who are the subject of abuse, neglect, or are in families in need of court-
ordered services actions but who turn 18 before being adjudicated and youth who emancipate
from CYFD custody while the subject of voluntary placement agreements are ineligible for the
Fostering Connections Program.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
Currently, CYFD tracks several performance measures associated with child well-being and the
Fostering Connections Program
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