HOUSE BILL 206

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Rebecca Dow and Kelly K. Fajardo and Gregg Schmedes and Cathrynn N. Brown and Joanne J. Ferrary

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILDREN; ADDING STUDY OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND TREATMENT RESOURCES TO CULTURAL RECOGNITION TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 32A-18-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, Chapter 77, Section 224, as amended) is amended to read:

     "32A-18-1. CULTURAL RECOGNITION.--

          A. A person who serves as a judge, prosecutor, child's attorney, guardian ad litem, treatment guardian, court appointed attorney, court appointed special advocate, foster parent, mental health commissioner or mental health treatment service provider for a child subject to an abuse or neglect petition, a family in need of services petition or a mental health placement shall receive periodic training, to the extent of available resources, to develop [his] the person's knowledge about children, the physical and psychological formation of children and the impact of ethnicity on a child's needs. Institutions that serve children and their families shall, considering available resources, provide similar training to institutional staff.

          B. The training shall include study of:

                (1) cross-cultural dynamics and sensitivity;

                (2) signs of physical and sexual abuse and neglect and resources for treatment;

                [(2)] (3) child development;

                [(3)] (4) family composition and dynamics;

                [(4)] (5) parenting skills and practices;

                [(5)] (6) culturally appropriate treatment plans; and

                [(6)] (7) alternative health practices."

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