New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES
Chapter 9 - EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
Part 5 - NON-LICENSED CHILD CARE; REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING REGISTRATION OF NON-LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES
Section 8.9.5.11 - BACKGROUND CHECKS

A. All background checks shall be conducted in accordance with the most current provisions of 8.9.6 NMAC governing background checks and employment history verification provisions as promulgated by ECECD. All non-licensed child care caregivers must adhere to these provisions to maintain their registration status. A background check must be conducted in accordance with 8.9.6 NMAC on all required individuals at least once every five years from the original date of eligibility regardless of the date of hire or transfer of eligibility. A direct provider of care may request a transfer of background check eligibility if:

B. The primary caregiver will be responsible for obtaining background checks on all adults residing in the home using the requirements outlined in the department's most current version of the background checks and employment history verification provisions (8.9.6 NMAC). A household member reaching the age of 18, must submit their background check in accordance with the most current provisions of 8.9.6 NMAC within 30 days after their eighteenth birthday. However, in the case of a registered family child care food-only home, all household members are only required to undergo a criminal history and child abuse and neglect screening.

C. Any adult who is present in the registered primary caregiver's home for significant periods while children are in care, or who commences being present in the registered primary caregiver's home for significant periods, may be required by the department to obtain either a background check or criminal history and child abuse and neglect screen. Family members or guests visiting for temporary periods (less than five days) are not considered as spending significant periods of time. However, such visiting family or guests must not have unsupervised access to the children in care at any time.

D. All requirements of the current background checks and employment history verification provisions pursuant to 8.9.6 NMAC must be met prior to the issuance of an initial registration.

E. The registered primary caregiver must maintain documentation of all applications, correspondence and clearances relating to the background checks required in this section and make them available to the registered authority upon request.

F. The primary caregiver shall certify upon renewal that they, or any other adult living in the home have not been convicted of a disqualifying offense during the last twelve months.