NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to None

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 311 amends the New Mexico Works Act in three ways:

• It requires the human services department to notify applicants and recipients of the programs and services available to assist families subject to family violence. Notification includes a definition (with examples) of family violence; an explanation of available exemptions from program requirements; and information about appeals.



• It requires the Human Services Department to notify participants of programs and services available to assist in selecting appropriate child care and that if appropriate child care is not available, they may seek an exemption from program work requirements. If a requested exemption is denied, the department is required to inform the participant that a fair hearing process is available.



• It requires the Children, Youth and Families Department to determine if childcare is available for participants. The department is required to consider several factors in making their determination including whether the child care service allows participants to engage a work activity appropriately; the number and predictability of placement required to provide child care; whether the care is suitable for children with medical or special needs as determined by a doctor or other licensed health care professionals; whether the child care provides infant care in cases where necessary; whether non-center-based child care, if selected by the participant, is suitable; whether a participant has reasonable transportation (private or public) available to and from their child care and work activity; and other special or extenuating circumstances directly affecting the participant's ability to access child care providers.




FISCAL IMPLICATIONS





There are no direct fiscal implications from the bill as it does not appropriate money. The Human Services and Children, Youth and Families Departments have not issued bill analyses suggesting how the bill might affect the program generally, and any resultant fiscal implications. This FIR will be amended when such information becomes available.





ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS





The bill requires the Human Services and Children, Youth and Families Departments to provide information and make administrative determinations that they may not currently provide or undertake. However, determining, how significant these implications are require the departments' inputs.





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