SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – As the halfway mark passes in this year’s legislative session in New Mexico, over a dozen of the bills working their way through the Roundhouse are looking to reform the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department. One of those bills is going into committee on Friday.
“Twenty-two babies have died that had plans of care and no one is checking on them. No one’s taking the responsibility of, this is my job, I need to check on this baby,” said Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena).
House Bill 343 would be the first step in creating an independent program that would track and investigate all reports of infants who were born with exposure to drugs. It’s a sweeping bill that would make big changes to CYFD, taking some enforcement authority away from the department, and creating a new way to monitor children.
“This is about protecting the baby. This isn’t about taking babies away. It’s not about putting them in foster care. It’s not about putting their moms and dads in jail. This is about getting them the help they need,” said Rep. Armstrong.
The bill is scheduled to be discussed in committee Friday morning.