HB 252 — KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT PILOT PROGRAM

HOUSEAN BILLACT 252RELATING 57THTO LEGISLATURECHILDREN; - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2025 INTRODUCED BY Susan K.

HerreraAMENDING andTHE MichelleAGING PauleneAND AbeytaLONG-TERM andSERVICES JavierDEPARTMENT MartínezACT andTO D.CREATE THE KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT PILOT PROGRAM;

Wonda Johnson and Kristina Ortez This document may incorporate amendments proposed by a committee, but not yet adopted, as well as amendments that have been adopted during the current legislative session.

The document is a tool to show amendments in context and cannot be used for the purpose of adding amendments to legislation.

AN ACT h RELATING TO CHILDREN;

AMENDING THE AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES g o t hr DEPARTMENT ACT TO CREATE THE KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT PILOT g e i k PROGRAM;

h r i s PROVIDING DUTIES;

HAFCºMAKING AN APPROPRIATION;»HAFC DECLARING h , t, AN EMERGENCY.

e7 u g e b l e e h n d d i = = o h BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

l ] b ,d i a º e SECTION 1.

A new section of the Aging and Long-Term r i = r t e w d m a n o Services Department Act is enacted to read:

d"PILOT mPROGRAM :CREATED--PURPOSE--DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT--ELIGIBILITY--REQUIREMENTS--ADMINISTRATION.-- A.

b e d s º o t n = .229418.3AIC March 13, 2025 (2:19pm) s k m e e a n e d r e l u [ A d "[NEW MATERIAL] PILOT PROGRAM CREATED--PURPOSE--DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT--ELIGIBILITY--REQUIREMENTS--ADMINISTRATION.-- A.

(5) "participant" means a kinship caregiver hHB 252/a/ec Page 1 for a child in this state who is a New Mexico resident and who g o t hr participates in the pilot program;

g e i k (6) "pilot program" means the kinship h r i s caregiver support pilot program;

and h , t, (7) "program partner" means a community e u g e b l e e h organization, nonprofit or area foundation in this state that n d d i = = o h collaborates and partners with the department in the l ] b ,d i a º e administration of the pilot program.

r i = r t e w d m a n o B.

The "kinship caregiver support pilot program" is dcreated mwithin :the department as a three-year pilot program.

b e d s º o t n = .229418.3AIC March 13, 2025 (2:19pm) s k m e - 2 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d created within the department as a three-year pilot program.

(1) develop and implement the pilot program SJCº in communities located within the counties of Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Taos, McKinley and Dona Ana»SJC SJCºwithin five to seven counties in the state»SJCstate and serve fifty participants in each of the communities;

(1) develop and implement processes and h eligibility criteria for kinship caregivers to apply to, and g o t hr become participants in, the pilot program.

Criteria for gHB e252/a/ec iPage k2 consideration shall include a kinship caregiver's current h r i s household income and the needs of the child or children that h , t, e u g are or will be cared for and supported by the kinship e b l e e h caregiver;

n d d i = = o h (2) determine and establish processes l ] b ,d i a º e necessary to implement and administer the pilot program;

r(3) iidentify =and rcoordinate taccess eto wfederal, dstate mand alocal nprograms oand (3)to identifyservices and coordinatereferrals accessfor toparticipants, federal,including dlegal mrepresentation, :public assistance and economic support services administered by program partners;

b e d s º o t n = .229418.3AIC March 13, 2025 (2:19pm) s k m e - 3 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d state and local programs and to services and referrals for participants, including legal representation, public assistance and economic support services administered by program partners;

(b) legal assistance provided to hHB 252/a/ec Page 3 participants who may wish to attain legal custody or kinship u » r guardianship of one or more children;

and t h g e l i (c) other costs to the department h r i s necessary for the administration of the pilot program;

h , e h (7) administer the pilot program and t u g e b l e e , gh collaborate with, and receive technical assistance from, other n d d i = = o h state agencies, including the early childhood education and l ] b ,d i a º r care department and any appropriate community or nonprofit e r = t e w d m a n o organizations;

d(8) mno :later than June 1, 2025, promulgate and adopt rules for the administration of the pilot program;

band r(9) eby tDecember º1, o2025 tand nby =December .229418.3AIC1 Marchof 13,each 2025subsequent (2:19pm)calendar syear, kand min econsultation -with 4the -early echildhood aeducation nand ecare ddepartment rand eany lother uappropriate [state Aagency, dprovide (8)a noreport laterto thanthe Junelegislative 1,finance 2025,committee promulgateassessing andthe adoptimpact rulesand foroutcomes the administration of the pilot program;program and providing department recommendations." SECTION 2.

andEMERGENCY.--It (9)is bynecessary Decemberfor 1, 2025 and by December 1 of each subsequent calendar year, and in consultation with the earlypublic childhoodpeace, educationhealth and caresafety departmentthat andthis anyact othertake appropriateeffect stateimmediately. agency, provide a report to the legislative finance committee assessing the impact and outcomes of the pilot program and providing department recommendations." HAFCº SECTION 2.

APPROPRIATION.--FourHB million252/a/ec fivePage hundred4 thousand25 dollars ($4,500,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the aging and long-term services department for expenditure in fiscal years 2026 through 2028 to carry out the provisions of this act.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2028 shall revert to the general fund.»HAFC SECTION HAFCº3.»HAFC HAFCº2.»HAFC EMERGENCY.--It is h necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act u » r take effect immediately.

t h g e l i - 5 - h r i s h , e h t u g e b l e e , gh n d d i = = o h l ] b ,d i a º r e r = t e w d m a n o d m :

b r e t º o t n = .229418.3AIC March 13, 2025 (2:19pm) s k m e e a n e d r e l u [ A d