Notice of rulemaking and public hearing for NMAC 8.9.3 and 8.9.4

Below is information about the Early Childhood Education and Care Department’s new proposed rules, the public hearing, and how to share your comments.

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) is working to ensure all New Mexican families and young children have access to high-quality early childhood programs. To help with this, ECECD is proposing amendments to the following:

8.9.3 NMAC - CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE; REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR CLIENTS AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS

8.9.4 NMAC - CHILD CARE LICENSING; CHILD CARE CENTERS, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS, FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES, AND OTHER EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Purpose of proposed rules: ECECD is proposing amendments to 8.9.3 NMAC to update the Child Care Assistance Program to reflect current statutory and federal requirements, including the requirements of the Child Care Assistance Program Act. ECECD is proposing amendments to 8.9.4 NMAC to update military-licensed child care centers to align with federal law, update out of school program requirements to align with other funding streams that support school-age children, and update and align ratios and group sizes for certain accredited child care centers.

Summary of proposed rules: In summary, proposed amendments to 8.9.3 NMAC will align definitions and program structure with statutory requirements and reorganize sections for clarity. The amendments refine the application process and eligibility criteria for the Child Care Assistance Program, including updates to eligibility documentation requirements, qualifying activities, hours-of-care criteria, and limitations on eligibility. The amendments also include: a new copayment section and fiscal control provisions to guide implementation of copayments and waitlist measures; provider requirements; provider billing restrictions; provider compensation expectations and requirements; at-risk child referral and training requirements; reporting obligations for providers; and, prohibitions on supplanting funds or requesting unauthorized payments with corresponding sanctions for noncompliance. Additionally, the amendments clarify departmental responsibilities, including fund usage, service caps, and establishing payment rates through a cost-estimation model. Finally, the amendments update sanctions and enforcement provisions, including reporting requirements for any suspected intentional misuse of funds.

ECECD is also proposing amendments to 8.9.4 NMAC to update military-licensed child care centers to align with federal law, update out of school program requirements to align with other funding streams that support school-age children, and update and align ratios and group sizes for certain accredited child care centers.

You can find a copy of the proposed rule on the ECECD website under Regulation Changes .

ECECD will hold a public rule hearing for the proposed amendments on July 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The public rule hearing will be held in person at Apodaca Hall in the PERA Building located at 1120 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502 and online via Zoom and phone. To access the hearing via the internet: please go to https://nmececdorg.zoom.us/s/88085154919 and follow the instructions indicated on the screen – Meeting ID: 880 8515 4919. To access the hearing by telephone, call 1-719-359-4580, Meeting ID: 880 8515 4919.

The public hearing will be conducted in a fair and equitable manner by an ECECD agency representative or hearing officer and shall be recorded. Any interested member of the public may attend the hearing and will be provided with a reasonable opportunity to offer public comment, either orally or in writing, including presentation of data, views, or arguments, on the proposed rules during the hearing. Members of the public will be given two minutes to provide oral comments.

Written public comment, including presentation of data, views, or arguments about the proposed rules, from any interested member of the public, may be submitted via email to ECECD-ECS-PublicComment@ECECD.NM.Gov with the subject line “8.9.3 NMAC and 8.9.4 NMAC Public Comment” or via first class mail to P.O. Drawer 5619, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502 – 5619. Written comments may be delivered to the Old PERA building at 1120 Paseo De Peralta on July 9, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Written comments will be accepted until the end of the public hearing on July 9, 2026.

If you are a person with a disability and would like to request accommodations, or a person with limited English proficiency and need interpretation, please contact the Early Childhood Education and Care Department at ECECD-ECS-PublicComment@ECECD.NM.Gov or call 505-670-8993 at least ten calendar days before the scheduled public rule hearing.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Maria Spray at maria.spray@ececd.nm.gov

A continuación, se presenta información sobre las nuevas reglas propuestas por el Departamento de Educación y Cuidado de la Primera Infancia (ECECD, por sus siglas en ingles), la audiencia pública y cómo enviar comentarios.

El Departamento de Educación y Cuidado de la Primera Infancia (ECECD) desea asegurar que todas las familias y niños pequeños de Nuevo México obtengan acceso equitativo a programas de alta calidad para la primera infancia. Para lograr esto, ECECD está proponiendo enmiendas para lo siguiente:

8.9.3 NMAC: REQUISITOS PARA CLIENTES Y PROVEEDORES DE PROGRAMAS DE ASISTENCIA PARA EL CUIDADO INFANTIL

8.9.4 NMAC: AUTORIZACIÓN DEL CUIDADO INFANTIL; CENTROS DE CUIDADO INFANTIL, PROGRAMAS EXTRAESCOLARES; HOGARES CON SERVICIO DE CUIDADO INFANTIL Y OTROS PROGRAMAS DE EDUCACIÓN Y CUIDADO DE LA PRIMERA INFANCIA

Propósito de las normas propuestas: El ECECD está promulgando estas enmiendas a 8.9.3 NMAC para actualizar el Programa de Asistencia para el Cuidado Infantil a fin de reflejar los requisitos estatales y federales…