Committee approves substitute to implement Families First prevention plan and statewide multilevel response by 2027

The Senate Rules Committee approved a committee substitute to Senate Bill 458 that directs the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to implement a Families First Prevention Services Act plan and to implement a multilevel response system statewide by 2027.

Sponsor Senator Trujillo told the committee the substitute narrows the original bill to focus on the Families First provisions. Dr. Rachel Garcia, an analyst who briefed the committee, described Families First as a 2018 federal law that allows states to draw down Title IV-E funds to pay for specified, evidence-based prevention services for families at imminent risk of foster care. "We are now one of four states that does not have a plan in place," Garcia said, noting CYFD had submitted a plan in December that is under federal review and that an approved plan could allow the state to draw down federal funds at a matching rate.

Department leadership told the committee CYFD has been resubmitting plans and working with technical assistance providers, that it currently pilots prevention services using state and TANF funding and that some start-up funding was included in last year's budget. The secretary said the department is implementing pilots and expects the plan to be approved, but cautioned that federal funding rules require the programs to be listed in the federal clearinghouse to be eligible for IV-E reimbursement.

Committee members pressed officials on why New Mexico's plan had not yet been approved, whether the state could adopt other states' plans wholesale, and on likely federal revenue. Dr. Garcia and department staff estimated an illustrative program scale could represent roughly $9'$10 million in total spending with an anticipated federal match for a portion of that spending, but noted actual draw-downs depend on the number of eligible families, program selection and federal approval of programs listed as evidence based in the clearinghouse.

Members discussed implementation supports including family resource centers, workforce and provider gap analyses, and coordination with courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts for provider lists and service networks. The secretary said CYFD would continue some prevention work under TANF funding while seeking approval for IV-E drawing once the federal government approves the state's plan.

The committee voted to give the substitute a "do pass" recommendation. The chair recorded the tally as nine in favor and the substitute was forwarded for further legislative consideration.