Foster families granted free admission to state sites

In an effort to provide more young people access to outdoor and cultural sites throughout New Mexico, the Foster Foster Family Park and Museum Free Admission Bill took effect June 14.

The bill was sponsored by State Reps. Kelly K. Fajardo, Rebecca Dow, David M. Gallegos, Susan K. Herrera, and Angelica Rubio, and signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on April 2.

By providing free day-use admission to state parks for foster parents and children in the custody of foster parents, the New Mexico State Parks Division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) is fulfilling its mission of creating a safe outdoor space with educational opportunities for more New Mexico residents, officials said in announcing the effective date.

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“New Mexico State Parks supported this legislation during the session, and I enthusiastically added my signature updating our rules to allow free admission for foster families,” said EMNRD Cabinet Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst. “This legislation will open up the outdoors and our many vibrant cultural sites to more New Mexicans which is a top priority for this administration.”

“Our state-run museums and historic sites are also offering free admission to New Mexico’s foster care families who do so much to support children in need,” said Debra Garcia y Griego, Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.

“Providing a sense of place, community and history, we hold a vast collection of cultural treasures which now will be easily accessible to New Mexico’s foster families.”

Free admission to state-owned museums and parks is contingent upon a current New Mexico’s driver’s license or other state of New Mexico issues photo identification and a current New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department foster parent certification card.