RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; CREATING A PILOT PROJECT TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO CERTAIN RELATIVES WHO PROVIDE CHILD- CARE.

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

Section 1. PILOT PROJECT--CHILD-CARE PROVIDERS.--

A. The children, youth and families department shall develop a child-care pilot program for participants of the New Mexico works program to run from July 1, 1999 to July 1, 2002. The department shall select at least five rural areas in the state that lack certified or registered child-care providers as sites for the child-care provider pilot program.

B. The child-care pilot program shall allow a person who is a licensed or registered child-care provider pursuant to the rules of the children, youth and families department and who resides with a benefit group, as defined in the New Mexico Works Act, to be compensated for providing child-care to minor members of the benefit group even if the child-care provider is related to them; provided that the minor member of the benefit group and the child-care provider are not related closer or beyond the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.

C. The child-care provider shall provide to the children, youth and families department verification of his relationship to the minor members of the benefit group with which he resides.

D. The children, youth and families department shall inspect the home to ensure that all health and safety standards are met.

HB 82

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