Chapter 32A — Chapter 32A

Any money appropriated for pre-kindergarten programs shall be distributed for mixed delivery programming. The public education department shall access funds from the early childhood education and care department to support pre-kindergarten in the public education system. Pre-kind…

The legislature finds that: A. special needs are present among the state's population of three- and four-year- old children and those needs warrant the provision of early pre-kindergarten and pre- kindergarten programs; B. participation in quality early pre-kindergarten and pre-k…

As used in the Pre-Kindergarten Act: A. "community" means an area defined by school district boundaries, tribal boundaries or joint boundaries of a school district and tribe or any combination of school districts and tribes; B. "department" means the early childhood education and…

interagency cooperation; contracts; contract monitoring; research. A. The department shall develop and implement an early pre-kindergarten program and a pre-kindergarten program. The department may transfer funds to the public education department for an approved public provider …

History: Laws 2005, ch. 170, § 5; 2011, ch. 140, § 1; repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 48, § 37.

A. The department shall solicit the delivery of both half-day and full-day early pre- kindergarten and pre-kindergarten program services by publishing a request for proposals or a request for applications that contains the same requested information for pre-kindergarten services.…

History: Laws 2005, ch. 170, § 7; repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 48, § 37.

History: Laws 2005, ch. 170, § 8; repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 48, § 37.

Any money appropriated for pre-kindergarten programs shall be divided equally between programs administered by the public schools and other programs licensed by the department. History: Laws 2011, ch. 126, § 1; 2019, ch. 48, § 23.

Chapter 32A, Article 23A NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Early Childhood Care and Education Act". History: Laws 2011, ch. 123, § 1; 2019, ch. 48, § 25.

As used in the Early Childhood Care and Education Act: A. "department" means the early childhood education and care department; B. "early childhood" means the period of a person's life from birth to age five; C. "fund" means the early childhood care and education fund; and D. "se…

A. The legislature finds that an early childhood care and education system is vital in ensuring that every New Mexico child is eager to learn and ready to succeed by the time that child enters kindergarten, that high-quality early learning experiences have been proven to prepare …

History: Laws 2011, ch. 123, § 4; repealed by Laws 2011, ch. 123, § 7.

A. The council is designated as the council required pursuant to the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007. The council shall fulfill all the duties required under the federal act for early childhood care and education. The council shall also lead the deve…

purpose; administration; grant applications. A. The "early childhood care and education fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the department and shall consist of gifts, grants, donations and bequests made to the fund. B. …

The council is terminated on July 1, 2017 pursuant to the provisions of the Sunset Act [12-9-11 to 12-9-21 NMSA 1978]. The council shall continue to operate pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4 [32A-23A-4 NMSA 1978] and 5 [32A-23A-5 NMSA 1978] of the Early Childhood Care and …

Chapter 32A, Article 23B NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Home Visiting Accountability Act". History: Laws 2013, ch. 118, § 1; 2019, ch. 48, § 27.

As used in the Home Visiting Accountability Act: A. "culturally and linguistically appropriate" means appropriate when taking into consideration the culture, customs and language of an eligible family's home; B. "department" means the early childhood education and care department…

contracting; reporting. A. The department shall provide statewide home visiting services using a standards-based program and promulgate rules governing the program. B. The department shall fund only standards-based home visiting programs that include periodic home visits to impro…

This act [32A-23C-1 to 32A-23C-5 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Early Childhood Care Accountability Act". History: Laws 2018, ch. 44, § 1.

As used in the Early Childhood Care Accountability Act: A. "child care assistance" means the assistance administered by the department that provides child care through the child care assistance program for school-aged children as the primary service delivery strategy through a co…

A. The department shall adopt and promulgate rules to establish specific standards for licensure and registration of licensed early childhood care programs that provide care for children from birth to five years of age. As part of these standards, the department shall establish a…

Beginning December 31, 2019 and annually thereafter, the department shall produce an annual outcomes report for the legislature and the governor that includes: A. the goals and achieved outcomes of the licensed early childhood care program standards implemented pursuant to the Ea…

The provisions of this act [32A-23C-1 to 32A-23C-5 NMSA 1978] shall not be construed to apply to the licensure or regulation of child care assistance, any licensed child care program or licensed exempt child care program. History: Laws 2018, ch. 44, § 5.

This act [Chapter 32A, Article 24 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Child Helmet Safety Act". History: Laws 2007, ch. 66, § 1.

As used in the Child Helmet Safety Act: A. "bicycle" means a human-powered vehicle with two wheels in tandem designed to transport, by the act of pedaling, one or more persons seated on one or more saddle seats on its frame and includes an electric-assisted bicycle and a human-po…

A. It is unlawful for a parent or legal guardian of a minor to knowingly permit that minor to operate or be a passenger on a bicycle, skates, scooter or skateboard unless that minor wears a well-fitted protective bicycle helmet, fastened securely upon the head with the straps of …

A person engaged in the business of renting bicycles, skates, scooters or skateboards shall provide a protective helmet to a minor who will be an operator of or passenger on a rented bicycle, skates, scooter or skateboard if the minor does not already have a helmet in the minor's…

Failure to wear a protective helmet shall not limit or apportion damages. History: Laws 2007, ch. 66, § 5.

This act [32A-25-1 to 32A-25-5 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Carlos Vigil Memorial Act" in honor of Carlos Vigil. History: Laws 2015, ch. 132, § 1.

The purposes of the Carlos Vigil Memorial Act are to: A. cultivate a statewide culture where bullying is not accepted; B. educate New Mexicans about recognizing bullying behaviors and understanding the potential consequences of bullying; and C. provide grants for providers of ser…

A. The "Carlos Vigil memorial board" is created to review grant applications and to award grants from the eradicate bullying fund. B. The board consists of five voting members who together provide diverse experience and expertise in: (1) administering or delivering services in an…

The Carlos Vigil memorial board shall: A. adopt and promulgate rules governing the acceptance, evaluation and prioritization of applications for grants, including applicant qualifications and the format, procedure and deadlines for grant applications; B. review grant applications…

A. The "eradicate bullying fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the board of regents of the university of New Mexico. Money in the fund is appropriated to the board of regents of the university of New Mexico for disbursement to grant recipient…

Chapter 32A, Article 26 NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "Fostering Connections Act". History: Laws 2019, ch. 149, § 1; 2020, ch. 52, § 3.

membership; appointment; terms; duties; meetings; report. A. By October 1, 2019, the secretary shall appoint a "fostering connections advisory committee" to make recommendations to the department and to the legislature regarding the fostering connections program. The committee sh…

A young adult may appeal an adverse eligibility determination in accordance with rules promulgated by the department. The department shall provide the young adult, in the young adult's primary language, with clear and developmentally appropriate verbal and written information con…

A. The department shall notify every child in its custody about the fostering connections program beginning when the child attains sixteen years of age and at every transition planning meeting thereafter. B. Prior to attaining seventeen years and six months of age, every child in…

As used in the Fostering Connections Act: A. "active efforts" means a heightened standard that is greater than reasonable efforts that include affirmative, active, thorough and timely efforts; B. "eligible adult" means an individual who meets the eligibility criteria for particip…

A. The "fostering connections program" is established in the department. The department shall make the fostering connections program available, on a voluntary basis, to an eligible adult who: (1) has attained at least eighteen years of age and who is younger than: (a) as of July …

A. The fostering connections program shall provide at least the following services and supports to eligible adults: (1) major medical and behavioral health care coverage; (2) housing, in one of the following settings that the eligible adult chooses: (a) a supervised independent l…

services and support agreement; periodic reviews. A. An eligible adult may participate in the fostering connections program for any duration of time by entering into a voluntary services and support agreement immediately upon turning eighteen years of age or any time thereafter. …

agreement; notice; procedure. A. An eligible adult may choose to terminate the voluntary services and support agreement and stop receiving services and support under the fostering connections program at any time. If an eligible adult chooses to terminate the voluntary services an…

jurisdiction; contents; program file. A. An eligible adult participating in the fostering connections program shall remain under the jurisdiction of the children's court while participating in the program. The eligible adult is the eligible adult's own legal custodian. B. Within …

A. The court shall conduct a review hearing at least once every six months. B. The primary purpose of the review hearing shall be to ensure that the fostering connections program is providing the eligible adult with the needed services and support to help the eligible adult move …

A. At the last review hearing held prior to the eligible adult's twenty-first birthday, or prior to an eligible adult's discharge from the fostering connections program, the court shall review the eligible adult's transition plan and shall determine whether the department has mad…

This act [32A-27-1 to 32A-27-8 NMSA 1978] may be cited as the "Family Representation and Advocacy Act". History: Laws 2022, ch. 51, § 1.

administration; finance. A. The headquarters of the office shall be located in the Bernalillo county metropolitan region. B. All salaries and other expenses of the office shall be paid upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration, supported by vouchers signe…

grants and donations. On behalf of the state, the office may receive gifts, grants, donations or bequests from any source to be used in carrying out the purposes of the Family Representation and Advocacy Act. Gifts, grants, donations or bequests from a person who has any matter c…

A. The director is the administrative head of the office. The commission shall appoint a director for a term of four years upon approval of two-thirds of its members. The commission may reappoint a director for subsequent terms. A vacancy in the office of director shall be filled…