2019 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 24 - Health and Safety
Article 22 - Safe Haven for Infants
Section 24-22-7 - Procedure if reunification is sought.
A. A person established as a parent of an infant previously left at a safe haven site shall have standing to participate in all proceedings regarding the child pursuant to the provisions of the Abuse and Neglect Act [Chapter 32A, Article 4 NMSA 1978].
B. If a person not previously established as a parent seeks reunification with an infant previously left at a safe haven site and the person's DNA indicates parentage of the infant, that person shall have standing to participate in all proceedings regarding the infant pursuant to the provisions of the Abuse and Neglect Act.
History: Laws 2001, ch. 31, § 7; 2001, ch. 132, § 7; 2005, ch. 26, § 7; 2013, ch. 20, § 6.
ANNOTATIONSThe 2013 amendment, effective June 14, 2013, changed terminology to conform to changes in terminology in the act; and in Subsections A and B, deleted "hospital" and inserted "safe haven site".
The 2005 amendment, effective June 17, 2005, provided that the parent of an infant shall have standing to participate in all proceedings regarding the child pursuant to the Abuse and Neglect Act; provided that if a person not previously established as a parent seeks reunification with an infant and the persons DNA indicated parentage of the infant, then the person has standing to participate in proceedings regarding the infant; and eliminated the provision that provides there is no presumption of abuse or neglect of against a person who seeks reunification.
