45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

REQUESTING THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO LICENSE PROVIDERS OF CHILD-CARE SERVICES THAT RECEIVE STATE REIMBURSEMENT FOR SUCH SERVICES.

WHEREAS, every child in New Mexico deserves the opportunity to experience healthy, normal development; and

WHEREAS, children should be able to rely on the provision of at least minimum standards of health, safety and nurturing through any child care subsidized by the state; and

WHEREAS, at least sixty percent of state-subsidized child care is provided through unlicensed child-care facilities where the quality and standards of care are unknown; and

WHEREAS, by subsidizing child care at these facilities, the state of New Mexico is paying for care that may be of a low quality; and

WHEREAS, the rate currently paid to child-care facilities by the state is below market value; and

WHEREAS, raising the reimbursement rate for subsidized child care at licensed facilities, and purchasing child-care services only from licensed facilities would provide an incentive for unlicensed facilities to become licensed, thereby improving the quality of care for all children, not just those in state-subsidized facilities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the children, youth and families department be requested to create a task force to develop a plan to license all providers of child-care services that receive state reimbursement for such services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be comprised of experts in child care, parents, representatives from children's advocacy groups, trade associations representing children's health and education and others, as deemed appropriate, to assist in the development of the plan, to project costs and to establish a timeline for implementation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of children, youth and families and the task force present this plan, including recommendations for legislation, to the interim legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee at their October 2001 meeting; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of children, youth and families and the respective legislative committees.