New Mexico Courts
Legislation
The diligent work of the Family Representation Commission in 2021 resulted in the presentation of the Family Representation and Advocacy Act in the Senate (SB31) and the House (HB46) in the 2022 Legislative Session. The legislation is modeled after the creation of public defender department and public defender commission. The Act seeks to create the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy as well as the Family Representation and Advocacy Commission. Both bills have been introduced in the 2022 Legislature. This page will be updated frequently to reflect any developments.
The Family Representation Commission assisted in drafting the Family Representation and Advocacy Act. The Act creates the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy in the Judiciary as well as the Family Representation and Advocacy Commission.
Support our legislation!
You can support the hard work of the Family Representation Commission and the creation of an independent Office of Family Representation and Advocacy. Below are tools created by the commission to assist our supporters in reaching out to legislators and championing this legislation in your communities.
Historical Legislative Efforts
In the 2021 Legislative Session the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy was introduced as SB127 and was sponsored by Sen. Lopez. The bill made progress in the session but did not make it off the house floor prior to the close of session.
Historical material will be housed here.
The diligent work of the Family Representation Commission in 2021 resulted in the presentation of the Family Representation and Advocacy Act (SB 127), and the accompanying Constitutional Amendment (SJR 11) in the 2021 Legislative Session. Both pieces of legislation were modeled after the creation of public defender department and public defender commission. The Act sought to create the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy in the Judiciary as well as an Oversight Commission. The Constitutional Amendment provided a concrete plan and time frame for complete independence of the Office in the Judiciary once passed by the voters. Both bills were introduced in the 2021 Legislature and a Fiscal Impact Report for SB 127 was completed.
The Family Representation Commission assisted in drafting the Family Representation and Advocacy Act (SB 127), and the accompanying Constitutional Amendment (SJR 11), both modeled after the Law Office of the Public Defender legislation. The Act creates the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy in the Judiciary as well as an Oversight Commission. The Constitutional Amendment creates a concrete plan and time frame for complete independence of the Office in the Judiciary once passed by the voters. Both bills have been introduced in the Legislature and a Fiscal Impact Report for SB 127 has been completed.
In an effort to secure passage of both bills in the legislature, the Family Representation Commission has created a number of documents that provide more information, including a two-page Legislation Handout as well as Points for Contract Attorneys.
The Family Representation Commission has also developed tools for stakeholders wanted to support these bills. These include Talking Points and Key Points.
SB 127 was unanimously passed through the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee on February 8, 2021, as was tracked in the Albuquerque Journal in an Article by Dan Boyd. However, ultimately SB 127 did not move to a vote prior to the close of session.
2021 Legislative Session Materials: