44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO CHILDREN; CLARIFYING THAT INDIAN CHILDREN HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OTHER CHILDREN IN THE STATE; AMENDING A SECTION OF THE NMSA 1978.

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

Section 1. Section 32A-1-8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, Chapter 77, Section 17, as amended) is amended to read:

"32A-1-8. JURISDICTION OF THE COURT--TRIBAL COURT JURISDICTION.--

A. The court has exclusive original jurisdiction of all proceedings under the Children's Code in which a person is eighteen years of age or older and was a child at the time the alleged act in question was committed or is a child alleged to be:

(1) a delinquent child;

(2) a child of a family in need of services; (3) a neglected child;

(4) an abused child;

(5) a child subject to adoption; or

(6) a child subject to placement for a developmental disability or a mental disorder.

B. The court has exclusive original jurisdiction to emancipate a minor.

C. During abuse or neglect proceedings in which New Mexico is the home state, pursuant to the provisions of the Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, the court shall have jurisdiction over both parents to determine the best interest of the child and to decide all matters incident to the court proceedings.

D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to in any way abridge the rights of any Indian tribe to exercise jurisdiction over child custody matters as defined by and in

accordance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. E. A tribal court order pertaining to an Indian child in an action under the Children's Code shall be recognized and enforced by the district court for the judicial district in which the tribal court is located. A tribal court order pertaining to an Indian child [that is not subject to the provisions of the Children's Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Act and] that accesses state resources shall be recognized and enforced pursuant to the provisions of intergovernmental agreements entered into by the Indian child's tribe and the department or another state agency. An Indian child residing on or off a reservation, as a citizen of this state, shall have the same right to services that are available to other children of the state. The cost of the services provided to an Indian child shall be determined and provided for in the same manner as services are made available to other children of the state. The tribal court, as the court of original jurisdiction, shall retain jurisdiction and authority over the Indian child."

Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 1999.