The department shall:
A. develop priorities for department programs and the use of department resources based on state policy, national best-practice standards, evidence-based interventions and practices and local considerations and priorities;
B. coordinate and align an early childhood education and care system to:
(1) include child care, pre-kindergarten, early pre-kindergarten, home visitation, early head start, head start, early childhood special education and early intervention and family support; and
(2) provide New Mexico families with consistent access to appropriate care and education services;
C. administer the child care assistance, child care licensing and registered child care home programs;
D. develop standards for the department-sponsored delivery of early childhood programs;
E. cooperate with other state agencies that affect children to develop common contracting procedures and service definitions and a uniform system of access to early childhood programs;
F. develop reimbursement criteria for child care centers and home providers licensed by the department;
G. conduct biennial assessments of child care or early learning service gaps and needs and establish plans to address those service gaps and needs;
H. conduct pre-employment fingerprint-based national criminal background checks on all department employees, including those whose employment by the department arises as a result of the transfer provisions of Section 34 of this 2019 act, and on staff members and volunteers of department-contracted providers whose jobs involve direct contact with children participating in programs delivered by the department or those providers;
I. provide a system of seamless transition from prenatal to early childhood programs to kindergarten;
J. provide consumer education and accessibility to early childhood care and education programs;
K. advance quality early childhood education and care programs to support the development of children to prepare them for success in school;
L. ensure effective collaboration with state and local child welfare programs and early childhood health and behavioral health programs;
M. develop and manage effective data systems to support the necessary functions of a coordinated program;
N. develop an aligned system of workforce development for early childhood professionals; and
O. promote culturally and linguistically appropriate programming and provide equal education and care opportunities to non-English speaking families.
History: Laws 2019, ch. 48, § 8.
ANNOTATIONSEffective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 48, § 38 made Laws 2019, ch. 48, § 8 effective July 1, 2020.
Temporary provisions. — Laws 2019, ch. 48, § 34 provided:
A. On July 1, 2020, all programs, functions, personnel, appropriations, money, statutory funds, records, furniture, equipment, supplies and other property belonging to the following are transferred to the early childhood education and care department, and all contractual obligations of the following are binding on the early childhood education and care department:
(1) the children, youth and families department's early childhood services division; and
(2) the department of health's:
(a) family, infant, toddler program; and
(b) family first home visiting.
B. Beginning on July 1, 2020, all contractual obligations pertaining to the programs, services and entities in Subsection A of this section are binding on the early childhood education and care department.
C. Beginning on July 1, 2020, all references in law, rules, orders and other official acts to the programs, services and entities in Subsection A of this section shall be deemed references to the early childhood education and care department.