HOUSE BILL 560

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

INTRODUCED BY

Kelly K. Fajardo and Rebecca Dow

AN ACT

RELATING TO FAMILIES; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE CHILDREN'S CODE TO REQUIRE THAT THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE TO CHILD GUARDIANS AND KINSHIP CAREGIVERS AS THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES TO FOSTER FAMILIES.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Children's Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] GUARDIANS--KINSHIP CAREGIVERS--FOSTER FAMILIES--PARITY OF ASSISTANCE.--

          A. The secretary of children, youth and families shall adopt and promulgate rules to provide guardians of children placed in their care by the department and kinship caregivers with the same level of assistance that the department provides to foster parents, including child care assistance with no cost-sharing imposition on the kinship caregivers or guardians.

          B. As used in this section, "kinship caregiver" means a relative within five degrees of consanguinity or affinity of a child placed in the relative's care."

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