HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 23

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Richard D. Vigil

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF HUMAN SERVICES TO STUDY THE AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR GRANDPARENTS ON LIMITED INCOMES WHO ARE RAISING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN WITHOUT SUPPORT FROM THE PARENTS.

     WHEREAS, grandparents often take on the burdens of parenting their grandchildren because the parents are unable, for a variety of reasons, to raise their own children; and

     WHEREAS, those grandparents rarely receive sufficient child support, if any, from the parents of the children being raised by the grandparents; and

     WHEREAS, many grandparents in these circumstances are not employed and live on a small, fixed retirement income; and

     WHEREAS, grandparents who are raising their grandchildren usually do not adopt the children and for that reason are not eligible for public assistance benefits that may be available to parents;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of human services be requested to convene a task force that includes representatives from the children, youth and families department to study the availability of public assistance to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren and, if currently there is no public assistance, to examine how to provide assistance to those grandparents who are in need; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of human services report to the appropriate interim legislative committee during the 2008 interim on the results of the study and on any findings and recommendations for providing assistance to grandparents in need; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of human services.

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