New Mexico SB231: STUDY COMMUNITY-BASED FOSTER CARE

What the bill says

An act relating to children; requiring the office of child advocate to conduct a study every five years regarding costs and reimbursement rates for community-based foster care placements and treatments and to conduct a study every six years regarding the costs and reimbursements associated with legal representation for children in the custody of the children, youth and families department as a result of abuse and neglect allegations; making an appropriation.

From the introduced text, February 3, 2026:

AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN; REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF CHILD ADVOCATE TO CONDUCT A STUDY EVERY FIVE YEARS REGARDING COSTS AND REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR COMMUNITY-BASED FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS AND TREATMENTS AND TO CONDUCT A STUDY EVERY SIX YEARS REGARDING THE COSTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR CHILDREN IN THE CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT AS A RESULT OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT ALLEGATIONS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. A new section of the Children's Code is enacted to read: "[NEW MATERIAL] REQUIRED STUDIES--COSTS--REIMBURSEMENT RATES--COMMUNITY-BASED FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS--TREATMENTS-- LEGAL SERVICES--REPORTS.-- .233653.1 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ A. Beginning in fiscal year 2027, the office of child advocate shall: (1) conduct a study every five fiscal years to review and evaluate the costs and reimbursement rates for providing community-based foster care placements and foster care treatment for children in foster care, including the costs of: (a) resources and associated daily workloads and activities related to volunteer community-based providers to address the safety and physical and emotional well-being of a child, parent, guardian or foster parent; (b) payments to reimburse resource families for the cost of food, clothing, shelter, daily supervision, school supplies, personal incidentals and reasonable travel expenses to meet the needs of …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Nicole Tobiassen (R, SD-021) · primary sponsor
• Candy Spence Ezzell (R, SD-032)

Latest actions

1. February 3, 2026: Sent to SCC - Referrals: SCC/SHPAC/SFC
2. : Action Postponed Indefinitely

Common questions

What is SB231?

SB231 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): STUDY COMMUNITY-BASED FOSTER CARE.

What does SB231 do?

In its own words: An act relating to children; requiring the office of child advocate to conduct a study every five years regarding costs and reimbursement rates for community-based foster care placements and treatments and to conduct a study every six years regarding the costs and reimbursements associated with legal representation for children in the custody of the children, youth and families department as a result of abuse and neglect allegations; making an appropriation.

What is the status of SB231?

In committee as of February 3, 2026. Latest action: Sent to SCC - Referrals: SCC/SHPAC/SFC (February 3, 2026).

Who sponsored SB231?

Nicole Tobiassen (R, SD-021), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for SB231?

On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legType=B&legNo=231&year=26