45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

REQUESTING THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY LICENSING ALL CHILD CARE FACILITIES THAT RECEIVE STATE REIMBURSEMENT.

WHEREAS, every child in New Mexico deserves the opportunity to experience healthy, normal development; and

WHEREAS, children receiving child care services subsidized by the state need to be assured of minimum standards of health, safety and professional nurturing and caregiving; and

WHEREAS, at least sixty percent of state-subsidized child care is provided through unlicensed child care facilities where the quality and standards of the environment and of care are unknown; and

WHEREAS, by subsidizing child care at these unlicensed facilities, the state of New Mexico is paying for care that may be substandard; and

WHEREAS, reimbursement rates currently paid for child care by the state are below market value; and

WHEREAS, if the state raised reimbursement rates for subsidized child care at licensed facilities and only subsidized care at licensed facilities, such circumstances would provide ample incentive for all child care facilities to become licensed and thereby improve child care for all children;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the children, youth and families department be requested to create a task force to develop a plan to license all providers that receive or are eligible to receive state reimbursement for child care services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include experts in child care outside the department, parents of preschool children who qualify for subsidized child care at current eligibility standards, representatives of children and family advocacy groups, statewide groups and associations representing child care providers of all categories, educators in early childhood and other interested parties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan include cost projections and a timetable to implement recommended changes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force and the secretary of children, youth and families present the plan and recommendations to the interim legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee at their respective October 2002 meetings; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of children, youth and families, the interim legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee.