CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES COMMISSION

HB 86 creates the Children, Youth and Families Commission and appoints a Superintendent to oversee New Mexico's child welfare system. The bill directly affects the Children, Youth and Families Department, courts, tribes, and families involved in child welfare cases by establishing this new governing body. Key provisions include defining the Commission's powers and duties, replacing the previous "substitute care advisory council," and requiring the Superintendent to coordinate child welfare services. The bill amends existing law to implement this structural change, focusing on centralized oversight rather than specific program details.