Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes the Child Care Assistance Program for no-cost child care in New Mexico.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the legislature to appropriate up to $1 billion total in fiscal years 2026 through 2031 from the early childhood education and care fund to the early childhood education and care program fund (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an appropriation authorized by this Act may not decrease the total balance in the early childhood education and care fund to below $10 billion (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Child Care Assistance Program to provide child care assistance for eligible children, subject to appropriation (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes individuals to submit an application on behalf of a resident child under the age of 13, or under the age of 19 if the child is physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves (Sec. 4).

• Requires each parent or legal guardian living in the same household as a child receiving child care assistance from the program to be (Sec. 4):

• Employed;

• A full-time student enrolled in at least 12 credit hours at an accredited educational institution;

• A part-time student enrolled in at least six credit hours at an accredited educational institution;

• Enrolled in a state-approved job training or apprenticeship program;

• Receiving aid from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program;

• Experiencing homelessness;

• Under the age of 21 and attending primary or secondary school;

• Participating in services provided by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016;

• A grandparent raising their grandchild;

• A foster parent; or

• Engaged in or exempted from another eligible activity as determined by the Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

• Specifies that if an applying parent or guardian has an annual household income greater than 600% of the federal poverty level, then the eligibility for child care assistance is limited to the hours of care supported by the parent or guardian’s qualifying activity schedule (Sec. 4).

• Requires the Early Childhood Education and Care Department to establish regulations for copayment for child care services, a sliding scale payment schedule for monthly copayments, and a priority-based waitlist if demand for child care exceeds availability of funds (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Department to expend federal child care assistance funds and any state matching funds required for federally eligible children, and to provide child care assistance to a maximum of 13,000 children who are not federally eligible for assistance (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Department to establish regulations for payment rates for the Child Care Assistance Program, considering a cost estimation model, differences in quality based on the tiered quality rating system, and the assurance of adequate wages for child care staff (Sec. 6).

• Establishes requirements for child care facilities and early intervention providers that participate in the Child Care Assistance Program, including forms of payment they may accept and hours that they may bill for (Sec. 7).

• Requires the Department to develop the Child Care Assistance Program to enhance child care quality and improve the development of participating children (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the Child Care Assistance Program for no-cost child care in New Mexico.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the legislature to appropriate up to $1 billion total in fiscal years 2026 through 2031 from the early childhood education and care fund to the early childhood education and care program fund (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that an appropriation authorized by this Act may not decrease the total balance in the early childhood education and care fund to below $10 billion (Sec. 1).

• Establishes the Child Care Assistance Program to provide child care assistance for eligible children, subject to appropriation (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes individuals to submit an application on behalf of a resident child under the age of 13, or under the age of 19 if the child is physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves (Sec. 4).

• Requires each parent or legal guardian living in the same household as a child receiving child care assistance from the program to be (Sec. 4):

• Employed;

• A full-time student enrolled in at least 12 credit hours at an accredited educational institution;

• A part-time student enrolled in at least six credit hours at an accredited educational institution;

• Enrolled in a state-approved job training or apprenticeship program;

• Receiving aid from the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program;

• Experiencing homelessness;

• Under the age of 21 and attending primary or secondary school;

• Participating in services provided by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016;

• A grandparent raising their grandchild;

• A foster parent; or

• Engaged in or exempted from another eligible activity as determined by the Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

• Specifies that if an applying parent or guardian has an annual household income greater than 600% of the federal poverty level, then the eligibility for child care assistance is limited to the hours of care supported by the parent or guardian’s qualifying activity schedule (Sec. 4).

• Requires the Early Childhood Education and Care Department to establish regulations for copayment for child care services, a sliding scale payment schedule for monthly copayments, and a priority-based waitlist if demand for child care exceeds availability of funds (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Department to expend federal child care assistance funds and any state matching funds required for federally eligible children, and to provide child care assistance to a maximum of 13,000 children who are not federally eligible for assistance (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Department to establish regulations for payment rates for the Child Care Assistance Program, considering a cost estimation model, differences in quality based on the tiered quality rating system, and the assurance of adequate wages for child care staff (Sec. 6).

• Establishes requirements for child care facilities and early intervention providers that participate in the Child Care Assistance Program, including forms of payment they may accept and hours that they may bill for (Sec. 7).

• Requires the Department to develop the Child Care Assistance Program to enhance child care quality and improve the development of participating children (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text