Legislation expands access to prevention and rehabilitation services for children in state care and enhances accountability for serious crime

Santa Fe, N.M. – Legislation to expand programs for at-risk youth and to address juvenile violence in New Mexico is now headed to the House Floor after passing the House Judiciary Committee today by a vote of 7-4. House Bill 255 would expand services offered to young people and enhance accountability for certain juvenile offenders to better prevent and address juvenile crime.

Currently, community-based programming is provided as an alternative to probation and parole only for juveniles who have been charged with a crime. HB 255 would also allow CYFD to refer any children or youth in their care to these programs.

"Protecting and rehabilitating at-risk youth in the state's care benefits all New Mexicans," said lead sponsor Rep. Liz Thomson (D-Albuquerque). "By expanding both prevention and intervention services for our most vulnerable young people, we can provide the opportunities they deserve to succeed, while preventing them from becoming stuck in cycles of crime."

Youth would be referred to appropriate community-based services by regional panels that include members from the judicial branch, local district attorneys and public defenders, area schools, police departments, and local community advocates. These services would include counseling, educational programming, mentorship opportunities, and other wrap-around services aimed at reducing recidivism, supporting the individual's mental and behavioral health, and promoting education and job training.

The bill also makes substantive updates to the Juvenile Delinquency Act to provide more accountability for young people. It extends the supervised release period for juveniles who have committed delinquent acts to help them transition back into the community after leaving detention facilities. It also adds "voluntary manslaughter" to the list of crimes for which a judge may decide to charge a person between the ages of 14 and 18 as an adult.

Additionally, the bill launches a three-year pilot program to provide monthly stipends for young people who age out of this programming or foster care. These funds could be used to help cover living expenses while they pursue higher education, apprenticeships, workforce development training, or programs to help them secure employment.

HB 255 is also sponsored by Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta (D-To'hajiilee), Art De La Cruz (D-Albuquerque), Anita Gonzales (D-Las Vegas), and Senators Antonio Maestas (D-Albuquerque) and Linda Lopez (D-Albuquerque).

This session, House Democrats are focused on making communities safer and improving the well-being of New Mexico's children and families.

"If we truly want to address the chronic issues of crime, substance use, and poverty in our communities, it starts by investing in the health and well-being of our children," said House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque). "We've made significant progress with family-focused policies like no-cost cradle-to-career education, but we need to make sure that our most vulnerable young people have adequate support so they don't slip through the cracks."

This year's budget, which has already passed the House, also dedicates $4 million to a Next Generation Fund, which will work with community organizations on youth development and family stability projects across New Mexico. These include programs to:

promote strong, healthy families and prevent child abuse and neglect;
support positive youth development programming from birth all the way to adulthood; focused on young people's physical, mental, and social well-being; and
encourage community service, leadership, and citizenship.

A robust public safety package, House Bill 8, and bills to expand and transform access behavioral healthcare across the state Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 3, have already been signed into New Mexico law.

Members of the public are welcome to attend floor sessions and committee meetings at the New Mexico Roundhouse, and can tune in virtually through the New Mexico Legislature's Webcasts tab. Public comment can also be provided in-person, and via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.