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|
SPONSOR: |
Jennings |
DATE TYPED: |
03/01/03 |
HB |
|
||
|
SHORT TITLE: |
Clarify CYFD Duties |
SB |
752/aSRC |
||||
|
|
ANALYST: |
Chabot |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
|
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
|
FY03 |
FY04 |
FY03 |
FY04 |
|
|
|
|
|
$.01 (See
Narrative) |
|
Recurring |
General
Fund |
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to SJM-47, HB199 and HJM-68
LFC Files
Responses
Received From
Administrative
Office of the Courts (AOC)
Children,
Youth and Families Department (CYFD)
Department
of Health (DOH)
Department
of Labor (DOL)
Health
Policy Commission (HPC)
Human
Services Department (HSD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of SRC Amendment
The Senate Rules Committee amendment to Senate Bill 752 designates CYFD as the treatment authority for children’s mental health and substance abuse in the state.
Synopsis
of Original Bill
Senate Bill 752 amends
statutes governing CYFD. In Section
9-2A-2 PURPOSE, it adds “provide leadership to other agencies that serve
children, youth and families to ensure a coordinated and integrated system of
care and services for children, youth and families.
In Section 9-2A-4
DEPARTMENT CREATED—DIVISIONS, it changes the department description to the
current organization structure.
In Section 9-2A-8
DEPARTMENT—ADDITIONAL DUTIES, it adds the requirement to develop priorities
based on national best-practice standards and local considerations. It states CYFD will integrate critical
functions including services delivery and contracting across divisions and
related agencies. The bill strikes
provisions for developing a readily accessible resource database, community and
regional councils and a uniform system of access. It adds an emphasis on prevention, encourages a uniform system of
access, includes special considerations for children with developmental
disabilities or emotional, neurobiological or behavioral disorders. It adds new requirements for the agency to
be the lead responsibility among all departments for children’s mental health
and substance abuse treatment and domestic violence. The agency is to adopt prevention and early intervention as a
department focus and to conduct biennial assessments of service gaps and
needs. The agency is to establish
outcome measures to address those gaps and needs including recommendations from
the Governor’s Children Cabinet and CYFD advisory committees.
In Section 9-2A-12
CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED—MEMBERS—PURPOSE, it
requires that one member shall be on the Governor’s Youth Council.
In Section 9-2A-13
INTERAGENCY COORDINATING GROUP, it adds the statement if the Governor creates a
Children’s Cabinet through executive order, it will assume the functions and
duties of the Interagency Coordinating Group.
Significant
Issues
DOH states that multiple initiatives addressing needs of children, youth and families exist; however, “coordination among these initiatives and shared goals and direction is sporadic.” This bill would give CYFD authority to integrate these programs. The service delivery system would need to be consistent with federal requirements and could be accomplished under the leadership of a single state agency coordinating these efforts across departments and agencies.
DOL is unsure of the extent CYFD will be involved in providing leadership to other agencies that serve children, youth and families, and requests this be further defined. The agency states if CYFD is to assume the lead for youth job development programs, it would be inconsistent with job training consolidation policies in the federal workforce development statutes.
HPC states the issues that challenge the well-being of New Mexican children span the normal functions of several state agencies leading to disjointed responses to individual issues, rather than a comprehensive, coherent policy for child welfare. However, because CYFD is given the leadership role over other agencies, there may be concerns about ultimate authority and responsibilities over programs.
HSD states it plays a significant role in programs such as mental health, substance abuse treatment and domestic violence services. The agency would have to ensure coordination with CYFD on these matters.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
AOC states if the
agency is requested to participate on any multidisciplinary task forces, committees
or boards, fiscal implications may result.
CYFD states there may
be a financial impact in the area of abuse and treatment, mental health,
domestic violence and neurobiological or behavioral disorders that may increase
agency costs.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
CYFD is concerned that
there may be an administrative impact to the program divisions. Monitoring service gaps and establishing
outcome measurements would involve staff time and expertise.
DOH states procedures
between agencies would need to be developed that were agreeable among the
agencies for coordinating programs affecting children, youth and families. The agency is also concern about the
contracting requirements and whether the function is to bemoved to CYFD. This would impact FTEs and funding.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
CYFD asks whether the Office of the Secretary
should be added to Section 9-2A-4A as a division.
CYFD recommends on page 5, line 17 after the
“treatment” inserting the word “authority” to comply with the requirements of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
GAC/njw