A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE INTERIM COMMITTEE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF A REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS; A SYSTEM FOR REGISTERING, TRACKING AND MANAGING CONVICTED CHILD ABUSERS; AND THE NEED FOR RESPONSIBLE AGENCIES TO COOPERATE ON ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE BY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS.

     WHEREAS, in October 2002, three-year-old Mario Archuleta became a victim of child abuse committed by his daytime child care provider; and

     WHEREAS, young Mario suffered severe burns to his hands due to the child abuse, requiring a prolonged hospital stay involving pain management and skin grafts; and

     WHEREAS, Mario will have permanent physical scarring and has suffered psychological and emotional trauma; and

     WHEREAS, Mario's parents, who desire that no other children suffer child abuse caused by child care providers, request that the legislature consider laws requiring registration of child care providers; and

     WHEREAS, Mario's parents also seek consideration of a law requiring a system of registering, tracking and managing convicted child abusers, similar to "Megan's Law" for sexual offenders;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the appropriate legislative interim committee study and make recommendations on the potential effectiveness of laws requiring background checks and registration of child care providers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appropriate legislative interim committee study and make recommendations on implementing a system for registering, tracking and managing convicted child abusers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the administrative office of the courts, the children, youth and families department, the corrections department and the department of public safety be encouraged to cooperate within their areas of responsibility to identify ways that they can address the issues involved with child abuse by child care providers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the legislative council service, the administrative office of the courts, the children, youth and families department, the corrections department and the department of public safety.