N.M. Stat. § 32A-28-28
Dispositional judgments; court findings.
A. At the conclusion of a dispositional hearing in a child custody proceeding
involving an Indian child, in addition to other requirements for a court's findings pursuant
to the Children's Code [Chapter 32A NMSA 1978], when the judgment is made in a child
custody proceeding held pursuant to the Family in Need of Court-Ordered Services Act
[Chapter 32A, Article 3B NMSA 1978] or the Abuse and Neglect Act [Chapter 32A,
Article 4 NMSA 1978], a court shall include findings of:
(1)
whether the placement preferences set forth in the Indian Family
Protection Act have been incorporated into a plan for family services made pursuant to
Section 32A-3B-15 NMSA 1978 or in a case plan as described in Section 32A-4-21
NMSA 1978; provided that if those placement preferences are not incorporated into the
plan for family services or the case plan, good cause for noncompliance shall be clearly
stated and supported by clear and convincing evidence;
(2)
whether the plan for family services or the case plan provides for
maintenance of the Indian child's cultural ties;
(3)
how the Indian child's cultural needs are considered and how, when
reasonable, access to cultural practices and traditional treatment will be provided to the
child; and
(4)
whether the Indian child's tribe was included in developing the case plan
for the Indian child and was provided a copy of the transition plan prior to the
presentation of the plan to the court.
B. The court shall determine during a review of a dispositional judgment involving
an Indian child pursuant to Section 32A-4-25 NMSA 1978 whether the judgment
complies with the placement preferences set forth in the Indian Family Protection Act or
the placement preferences of the Indian child's tribe and whether the child's case plan
as described in Section 32A-4-21 NMSA 1978 provides for maintaining the Indian child's
cultural ties. When placement preferences are not followed, good cause for
noncompliance shall be clearly stated and supported by clear and convincing evidence.
A court's determination of good cause shall be made on the record or in writing and
shall be based on the considerations set forth in the federal regulations or other factors
authorized by federal and state law.
C. The court shall make findings determining that the department made active
efforts pursuant to the Indian Family Protection Act to meet the requirements of this
section and may continue to exercise its jurisdiction for a period not to exceed one year
from the Indian child's eighteenth birthday. The young adult must consent to continued
jurisdiction of the court. Additionally, the Indian child may volunteer to participate in the
fostering connections program through the department. The court may dismiss the
case at any time after the Indian child's eighteenth birthday for good cause.
D. When the child is an Indian child, the court shall determine during review of a
dispositional order whether all requirements pursuant to Section 27 [32A-28-27 NMSA
1978] of the Indian Family Protection Act were followed.