SENATE BILL 339

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Linda M. Lopez and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez

AN ACT

RELATING TO JUVENILE SERVICES; RENAMING THE JUVENILE CONTINUUM GRANT FUND AS THE JUVENILE EQUITY COMMUNITY GRANT FUND; REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE CONTINUUM SERVICES TO BE EQUITABLE.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 9-2A-14.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 351, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "9-2A-14.1. JUVENILE [CONTINUUM] EQUITY COMMUNITY GRANT FUND--CREATED--PURPOSE--ADMINISTRATION--GRANT APPLICATIONS.--

          A. The "juvenile [continuum] equity community grant fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund shall be administered by the [children, youth and families] department and shall consist of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and bequests made to the fund.

          B. Money in the juvenile [continuum] equity community grant fund is subject to appropriation by the legislature to the [children, youth and families] department for awarding grants to juvenile justice continuums for the provision of [cost-effective] individualized services, juvenile diversion programs, system improvement and temporary, nonsecure alternatives to detention for juveniles arrested or referred to juvenile probation and [parole] supervised release or at a risk of such referral.

          C. A local or tribal government may apply for a grant from the juvenile [continuum] equity community grant fund for a juvenile justice continuum within its jurisdiction. The amount of the grant application shall not exceed sixty percent of the annual cost of the continuum. A local match of forty percent may consist of money, land, equipment or in-kind services.

          D. The [children, youth and families] department, in conjunction with the juvenile justice advisory committee, shall adopt rules on qualifications for grants and specify the format, procedure and deadlines for grant applications. The juvenile justice advisory committee shall review all grant applications and submit those applications recommended for final approval to the secretary [of children, youth and families].

          E. Disbursements from the juvenile [continuum] equity community grant fund shall be made upon vouchers issued and signed by the secretary of children, youth and families or the secretary's designee upon warrants drawn by the secretary of finance and administration.

          F. As used in this section, a "juvenile justice continuum" is a system of services [and sanctions] for juveniles arrested or referred to juvenile probation and [parole] supervised release or at risk of such referral. [and consists of a] Juvenile justice continuums are formed through formal partnership among one or more units of local or tribal governments, the children's court, the district attorney, the public defender, local law enforcement agencies, the public schools and other entities such as private nonprofit organizations, the business community, community organizations, community members and religious organizations. Juvenile justice continuums shall provide services that are inclusive of all eligible juveniles. A juvenile justice continuum shall be established through a memorandum of understanding and a continuum board composed of representatives that reflect the diverse population of juveniles being served by juvenile justice continuums."

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