A. If the parents, relatives, guardians or caretakers of a child released from a hospital or freestanding birthing center pursuant to a plan of care fail to comply with that plan, the department shall be notified and the department may conduct a family assessment. Based on the results of the family assessment, the department may offer or provide referrals for counseling, training, or other services aimed at addressing the underlying causative factors that may jeopardize the safety or well-being of the child. The child's parents, relatives, guardians or caretakers may choose to accept or decline any service or program offered subsequent to the family assessment; provided that if the child's parents, relatives, guardians or caretakers decline those services or programs, the department may proceed with an investigation.

B. As used in this section, "family assessment" means a comprehensive assessment prepared by the department at the time the department receives notification of failure to comply with the plan of care to determine the needs of a child and the child's parents, relatives, guardians or caretakers, including an assessment of the likelihood of:

(1) imminent danger to a child's well-being;

(2) the child becoming an abused child or neglected child; and

(3) the strengths and needs of the child's family members, including parents, relatives, guardians or caretakers, with respect to providing for the health and safety of the child.

History: Laws 2019, ch. 190, § 4.

Effective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 190 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 14, 2019, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.