CYFD & Mental Health Legislation Advances Through Committee
Bills would establish the Office of the Child Advocate and expand Mental Health Crisis Triage Centers
Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, legislation addressing mental health and child well-being in New Mexico passed the House Health and Human Services Committee with broad bipartisan support.
House Bill 11, which would establish the Office of the Child Advocate within the Attorney General’s office, passed the Committee with a bipartisan vote of 9-1. This new office would review and strengthen the services provided by the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to better protect children’s rights to privacy, health care, and education. It would also investigate and work to resolve complaints, make referrals and recommendations, operate a toll-free hotline, and provide an annual report detailing its work and findings.
“The rate of adverse child experiences in New Mexico is far too high, and these experiences can have detrimental impacts on our kids throughout their entire lives,” said Rep. Tara Jaramillo (D-Socorro), lead sponsor of HB 11. “Creating the Office of the Child Advocate would provide greater oversight of children’s services in our state, so that the kids and families served by CYFD can trust that the system is acting in the best interest of our children.”
The bill’s bipartisan sponsors include: Rep. Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho), Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), Rep. Eleanor Chávez (D-Albuquerque), Rep. Marian Matthews (D-Albuquerque), and Senators Crystal Diamond (R-Elephant Butte), David Gallegos (R-Eunice), and Gregg Schmedes (R-Tijeras).
The House Health and Human Services Committee also advanced HB 373, which would expand Mental Health Crisis Triage Centers in the state to help treat individuals in crisis. The bill would define these centers in code, authorize peace officers to bring in individuals for mental status examinations, and allow involuntary admission and treatment of certain individuals in crisis, in addition to voluntary entry.
“If left untreated, mental health issues can have cascading consequences, including homelessness, involvement in the criminal justice system, self-harm, harm to others, and even suicide,” said HB 373 lead sponsor Rep. Doreen Gallegos (D-Las Cruces). “To protect the safety of the people struggling and those around them, we must ensure that people can receive care when they need it most.”
HB 373 passed with a unanimous vote. Additional sponsors include: Reps. Marian Matthews (D-Albuquerque), Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla), and Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces).
HB 11 will now head to the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, and HB 373 will head to the House Judiciary Committee.
The Roundhouse is open to the public for the 2023 session. Members of the public can also view floor sessions and committee meetings on the New Mexico Legislature’s Webcasts tab, and provide comment via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.
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