New Mexico Register / Volume XXXI, Issue 9 / May 5, 2020
NOTICE OF PUBLIC
RULEMAKING AND CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
The
New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department hereby gives notice as required
under Section 14-4-5.2 NMSA 1978 and 1.24.25.11 NMAC that proposes it to adopt
amendments to the following rules regarding CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES
GENERAL PROVISIONS GOVERNING BACKGROUND CHECKS AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
VERIFICATION as authorized by Section 9-2A-7 NMSA 1978:
8.8.3.6
NMAC - OBJECTIVE
8.8.3.10
NMAC - COMPLIANCE
No
technical scientific information was consulted in drafting these proposed
rules.
Purpose of proposed rules:
The purpose of the rules is to amend the background check requirements
under 8.8.3 NMAC to comply with federal regulations for applicants required to
obtain background checks pursuant to 8.16.2
NMAC and 8.17.2 NMAC. All
prospective and existing staff (hired after October 1, 2016) will be required
to obtain an inter-state criminal repository check in states where they resided
during the preceding five years. In
addition, language is added in 8.8.3.10 NMAC Compliance to clarify the
requirement of both a screen of abuse and neglect (currently listed under
8.8.3.6 NMAC Objective) and an inter-state criminal repository check in each
state where the applicant resided during the preceding five years.
Copies
of the proposed rules may be found at end of this notice and at CYFD’s website
at https://www.newmexicokids.org/ 30 days prior to the Public Hearing.
Notice of public rule hearing:
The public rule hearing that was originally scheduled for March 17,
2020, at 1:00 p.m., will be held on June 9, 2020 at 1:00 pm. The hearing will
be held via internet, email, and telephonic means due to the concerns
surrounding COVID-19 and in accordance with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s
Executive Order 2020-004, Declaration of Public Health Emergency and the March
12, 2020 Public Health Emergency Order to Limit Mass Gatherings Due to
COVID-19. The public hearing will be
conducted in a fair and equitable manner by a CYFD agency representative or
hearing officer and shall be recorded.
Any interested member of the public may attend the hearing and will be
provided a reasonable opportunity to offer public comment, either orally or in
writing, including presentation of data, views, or arguments, on the proposed
rules during the hearing. Individuals
with disabilities who need any form of auxiliary aid to attend or participate
in the public hearing are asked to contact Debra Gonzales at debra.gonzales@state.nm.us. CYFD will make every effort to accommodate
all reasonable requests, but cannot guarantee accommodation of a request that
is not received at least ten calendar days before the scheduled hearing.
Notice of acceptance of written public
comment: Written public comment, including
presentation of data, views, or arguments about the proposed rules, from any
interested member of the public, may submitted via email to CYFD-ECS-PublicComment@state.nm.us
with the subject line “8.8.3 NMAC Public Comment” or via first class mail to
P.O. Drawer 5160, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502 – 5160. The comment period ends at the conclusion of
the public hearing on June 9, 2020.
Any
interested member of the public may attend the hearing via the internet or
telephone and offer public comments on the proposed rule during the
hearing. To access the hearing by
telephone: place call 1-346-248-7799.
You will be able to hear the full hearing and your telephone comments
will be recorded. To access the hearing
via the internet: please go to https://zoom.us/j/98975572473, and follow the
instructions indicated on the screen – Meeting ID (access code): 98975572473. This will be a live stream of the
hearing. You may also provide comment
via Chat during the live streaming.
AVISO DE PROMULGACION DE LEYES ADMINISTRATIVAS Y
AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA CONTÍNUA
El Departamento de Niños, Jóvenes y Familias de Nuevo
México por este medio da aviso como se requiere bajo la Sección 14-4-5.2 NMSA
1978 y 1.24.25.11 NMAC, que propone adoptar enmiendas a las siguientes reglas
con respecto a PROVISONES GENERALES DEL DEPARTAMENTO DE NIÑOS, JÓVENES Y
FAMILIAS, GOVERNANDO LA REVISIÓN DE
ANTECEDENTES Y HUELLAS Y VERIFICACION
DE HISTORIAL DE EMPLEO según lo autorizado por la sección 9-2A-7 NMSA 1978:
8.8.3.6 NMAC –
OBJECTIVO
8.8.3.10 NMAC
–CONFORMIDAD
No se consultó información técnica científica cuando
se redactaron estas leyes propuestas.
Propósito de las leyes propuestas: El propósito de las leyes es enmendar los requisitos bajo 8.8.3 NMAC para el
cumplimiento con las regulaciones federales para solicitantes con requisitos de
obtener la revisión de antecedentes y huellas conforme a 8.16.2 NMAC y 8.17.2
NMAC. Todos los empleados potenciales y existentes
(contratados a partir del 1 de octubre del 2016) requerirán obtener una
comprobación de datos del repositorio penal interestatal en cada estado donde el solicitante ha vivido
durante los últimos cinco años. Adicionalmente, lenguaje se ha añadido en
8.8.3.10 NMAC en conformidad para
clarificar ambos requisitos; la detección de negligencia y abuso (ahora
enlistado bajo el Objetivo 8.8.3.6 NMAC) y la comprobación de datos del
repositorio penal interestatal en cada estado donde el solicitante ha vivido
durante los últimos cinco años.
Copias de las leyes propuestas pueden ser localizadas
al final de este aviso y en la página de internet de CYFD https://www.newmexicokids.org/
30 días antes de la Audiencia Pública.
Aviso de Audiencia Pública de
Leyes: La audiencia pública de leyes que estaba
originalmente programada para el martes 17 de marzo del 2020 a la 1:00 p.m. se
llevara acabo el día 9 de junio del 2020 a la 1:00
pm. La audiencia se llevara acabo vía internet,
correo electrónico, y medios telefónicos a causa concerniente a COVID-19 y en
acuerdo a la Orden Ejecutiva 2020-004, de Declaración de Emergencia de Salud
Pública y la Orden del 12 de marzo del
2020, Emergencia de Salud Pública con limitación de Grandes Agrupaciones a
causa del COVID-19, de la Gobernadora
Michelle Lujan Grisham. La audiencia pública se llevará a cabo de manera justa
y equitativa por un representante de la agencia de CYFD o el funcionario de
audiencias y será grabada. Cualquier
miembro del público interesado puede asistir a la audiencia y se le proveerá
una oportunidad razonable para ofrecer sus comentarios al público, oralmente o
por escrito, incluso una presentación de datos, puntos de vista s o argumentos,
sobre las propuestas durante la audiencia.
Personas con discapacidades que necesiten cualquier forma de asistencia
auxiliar para asistir o participar en la audiencia pública deben comunicarse
con Debra Gonzales, debra.gonzales@state.nm.us. CYFD hará todos los esfuerzos posibles para
acomodar todas peticiones razonables, pero no puede garantizar acomodar
peticiones que no sean recibidas por lo menos diez días antes de la fecha programada para la
audiencia.
Aviso de aceptación de comentario público por escrito: Comentario público por escrito, incluso presentación de datos,
puntos de vista o argumentos sobre las leyes propuestas, de cualquier miembro
del público interesado pueden ser enviados a través de correo electrónico
a: CYFD-ECS-PublicComment@state.nm.us, especificando en la línea de Asunto: “8.8.3 NMAC Public
Comment,” o por correo de primera clase a P.O. Drawer
5160, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502 – 5160. El período de comentarios
termina con la conclusión de la
audiencia pública del 9 de junio del 2020.
Cualquier miembro del público puede asistir a la
audiencia por medio del internet o por teléfono y ofrecer durante la audiencia
comentarios públicos sobre las leyes propuestas. Para accesar
la audiencia por medio telefónico marque el número: 1-346-248-7799. Podra escuchar toda la audiencia y sus comentarios por telefono seran grabados. Para accesar a
la audiencia por medio de internet dirijase a:
https://zoom.us/j/98975572473, y siga las instrucciones indicadas en la pantalla-Meeting ID (numero de identificacion) Access
code (codigo de acceso): 98975572473. Esta sera una
audiencia en vivo. Podra proveer su
comentario por Chat durante la presentacion
en vivo.
Proposed Rules/Reglas Propuestas
Explanatory sentence for purposes of
this Notice: In 8.8.3.6 NMAC,
Subsections A and B were not published as there are no changes. In 8.8.3.10 NMAC, Subsections A, C and D were
not published as there are no changes.
8.8.3.6 OBJECTIVE:
***
C. Abuse and neglect
screens of databases in New Mexico are conducted by BCU staff in order to
identify those persons who pose a continuing threat of abuse or neglect to care
recipients in settings to which these regulations apply. Applicants required to
obtain background checks pursuant to 8.16.2 NMAC and 8.17.2 NMAC will
also undergo a screen of abuse and neglect information and an inter-state
criminal history check in each State where the applicant resided during the
preceding five years.
[8.8.3.6 NMAC - Rp, 8.8.3.6 NMAC,
10/1/2016, A, 10/1/2019, xx/xx/2020]
8.8.3.10 COMPLIANCE:
***
B. The
licensee is required to:
(1) submit
an electronic fingerprint submission receipt and the required forms for all direct
providers of care, household members in licensed and registered child care
homes, or any staff member, employee, or volunteer present while care
recipients are present, or other adult as required by the applicable
regulations prior to the commencement of service, whether employment or,
contractual, or volunteer. In the case
of a licensed child care home and a registered home, the licensee must submit
an electronic fingerprint submission receipt and the required forms for new
household members or for any adult who is required to obtain a background check
pursuant to 8.16.2 NMAC or 8.17.2 NMAC as applicable. However, in the case of a registered family
child care food-only home, all household members are only required to undergo a
criminal history and child abuse and neglect screening.
(2) Applicants
required to obtain background checks pursuant to
8.16.2 NMAC and 8.17.2 NMAC must indicate states where they resided during the
preceding five years and obtain the following:
(a) a screen of abuse and neglect information in each state
where the applicant
resided during the preceding five years; and
(b) an inter-state criminal history check in each state where a
new applicant resided during the preceding five years. An inter-state criminal history check is not
required if a new applicant has resided in a state that participates in the
federal bureau of investigation’s national fingerprint file. All existing staff hired after October 1,
2016, must undergo an inter-state criminal history check in each state where
the applicant resided during the preceding five years at the time of
application. An inter-state criminal history
check is not required if an applicant has resided in a state that participates
in the federal bureau of investigation’s national fingerprint file.
***
[8.8.3.10
NMAC - Rp, 8.8.3.10 NMAC, 10/1/2016, A, 10/1/2019,
xx/xx/2020]