SENATE BILL 383

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Gerald P. Ortiz y Pino

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; REQUIRING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DEVOTE A PORTION OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO FAMILY FORMATION AND RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD PROGRAMS; AMENDING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. Section 27-2B-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1998, Chapter 8, Section 1 and Laws 1998, Chapter 9, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "27-2B-1. SHORT TITLE.--[Sections 1 through 20 of this act] Chapter 27, Article 2B NMSA 1978 may be cited as the "New Mexico Works Act"."

     Section 2. A new section of the New Mexico Works Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] FAMILY FORMATION AND RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD PROGRAMS.--

          A. In fiscal year 2010 and each subsequent fiscal year, a sum of at least two percent of the federal block grant for the state's temporary assistance for needy families programs, which programs provide for a portion to be spent on family formation and responsible fatherhood, shall be spent on programs to enhance family formation and responsible fatherhood.

          B. Family formation programs include:

                (1) education in high schools on the value of marriage, relationship skills and budgeting;

                (2) marriage education, marriage skills and relationship skills programs that may include parenting skills, financial management, conflict resolution and job and career advancement for non-married pregnant women and non-married expectant fathers;

                (3) premarital education, marriage skills training and relationship skills for engaged couples and couples or individuals interested in marriage;

                (4) marriage enhancement and marriage skills training programs for married couples;

                (5) divorce reduction programs that teach relationship skills; and

                (6) marriage mentoring programs that use married couples as role models and mentors in at-risk communities.

          C. Responsible fatherhood programs include:

                (1) activities to promote or sustain marriage, such as:

                     (a) disseminating information about the benefits of marriage and two-parent involvement for children;

                     (b) enhancing relationship skills;

                     (c) education regarding how to control aggressive behavior;

                     (d) disseminating information on domestic violence and child abuse;

                     (e) marriage preparation programs;

                     (f) premarital counseling;

                     (g) skills-based marriage education; and

                     (h) family financial planning seminars;

                (2) activities to promote responsible parenting through activities such as skills-based parenting education; and

                (3) activities to foster economic stability by helping fathers improve their economic status through work first services, job search, job training, subsidized employment, job retention and job enhancement.

          D. The federal funds for family formation and responsible fatherhood programs shall be administered by the department and shall be awarded through a competitive request for proposals process.

          E. All programs shall offer at least eight hours of education or training to individuals or couples using evidence-based curricula and shall develop a domestic violence protocol in conjunction with a local domestic violence program.           F. The secretary may promulgate rules for family formation and responsible fatherhood training programs.

          G. All programs shall be voluntary and shall serve all interested persons regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, marital status, sexual orientation or disability status.

          H. The secretary shall report annually through 2012 to the interim welfare reform oversight committee on family formation and responsible fatherhood programs and funding."

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