PAYMENTS FOR CHILD CARE OR PRE-K

HB0304

HOUSE BILL 304

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Mark Duncan

AN ACT

RELATING TO CHILD CARE; PROVIDING MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO A PARENT
OF A CHILD THAT IS NOT ENROLLED IN A STATE-FUNDED CHILD CARE OR
PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1.
[
NEW MATERIAL
] PAYMENTS TO THE PARENTS OF A
CHILD NOT ENROLLED IN A STATE-FUNDED CHILD CARE OR PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM.--

A. The department shall provide the following
monthly payments to the parents of a child that is not enrolled
in a state-funded child care or pre-kindergarten program:

(1) two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)
for each infant of the parents;

(2) one thousand nine hundred seventy-five
dollars ($1,975) for each toddler of the parents; and

(3) one thousand three hundred seventy-five
dollars ($1,375) for each preschool-age child of the parents.

B. An application for a payment shall include
documentation:

(1) of the date of the child's birth or
guardianship, as applicable;

(2) of the parents' relationship to the child;

(3) of the parents' in-state residency;

(4) that the child is not enrolled in a state-funded child care or pre-kindergarten program; and

(5) indicating where the payment to the
parents of the child should be deposited or mailed.

C. The department shall make a determination within
sixty calendar days of receipt of a completed application. If
the application is approved, the department shall promptly make
a payment as provided in Subsection A of this section.

D. If an application for payment is denied, the
department shall promptly notify the parents of the grounds for
denial.

E. Parents applying for the payment shall not be
eligible to receive the payment if the parents have willfully
or knowingly provided the department with fraudulent
documentation in support of an application.

F. If more than one parent of a child applies and
is eligible to receive the payment provided by Subsection A of
this section, the payment may be divided evenly between the
parents; provided that if a parent has sole custody of the
child for whom the payment is being made, that parent shall
receive the full payment.

G. As used in this section:

(1) "child" means:

(a) an infant that is age zero up to
twenty-four months;

(b) a toddler that is age twenty-four
months up to thirty-six months; or

(c) a preschool-age child that is age
three to five years;

(2) "department" means the early childhood
education and care department; and

(3) "parent" includes a legal guardian.

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