NMSA 32A-27-6. Family representation and advocacy commission;

32A-27-6. Family representation and advocacy commission; membership; terms; removal. A. The "family representation and advocacy commission" is created. B. The commission consists of thirteen members, including: (1) the director of the university of New Mexico school of law's Corinne Wolfe center for child and family justice, or the director's designee; (2) the director of the administrative office of the courts' court improvement project, or the director's designee; (3) the dean of the New Mexico state university school of social work or the dean of New Mexico highlands university school of social work, or the dean's designee, in alternating terms; (4) three members appointed by the governor who demonstrate a commitment to high-quality legal representation or to working with and advocating for the population served by the office; (5) five members appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court, including: (a) two members who either served as former children's court judges or attorneys in the child welfare system; and (b) three members, including: 1) a youth with lived experience in the legal custody of the children, youth and families department; 2) a parent with lived experience having one or more children in the legal custody of the children, youth and families department; and 3) a member with lived experience with the children, youth and families department or another child welfare agency as a youth, a parent or both; (6) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and (7) one member appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate. C. Initial appointments to the commission shall be made no later than September 30, 2022. The director of the university of New Mexico school of law's Corinne Wolfe center for child and family justice and the director of the administrative office of the courts' court improvement project shall serve as permanent members. Initial terms of members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate shall be for two years. Initial terms of members appointed by the governor, the chief justice of the supreme court and the dean of a school of social work shall be for three years. D. Subsequent terms for appointed members shall be for four years. Appointed commission members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. An appointed commission member shall serve until the member's successor has been appointed and qualified. The commission shall fill a vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term pursuant to Subsection B of this section. E. A member may be removed by the commission for malfeasance, misfeasance or neglect of duty. F. If a member's professional status changes in a way that renders the member ineligible pursuant to the provisions of the Family Representation and Advocacy Act, the member shall resign immediately. G. Members of the commission shall be entitled to compensation pursuant to the provisions of the Per Diem and Mileage Act [10-8-1 to 10-8-8 NMSA 1978] and shall receive no other perquisite, compensation or allowance. History: Laws 2022, ch. 51, § 6.