SANTA FE, NM (KRQE) – There are just a few days left in the 2022 legislative session. With a deadline looming, the calendar for Monday, February 14 is packed with committee meetings.
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Several committees will meet to discuss crime-related laws. Among other bills, lawmakers will consider Senate Bill 231, which introduces a variety of changes to statewide law enforcement.
The bill would require the Ministry of Public Security to create a centralized database of information on officers’ excessive use of force. The data could be used to track repeat cases and manage terminations or even criminal convictions of offending officers, if necessary. According to the draft law, some of the data would also be made public.
The bill would also increase death benefits paid to the families of officers killed in the line of duty. Currently, the payout is a quarter of a million dollars. Senate Bill 231 would increase that to $1 million.
Lawmakers will also debate House Bill 86, which aims to prevent law enforcement officers from leaving the profession. The latest, amended version would pay police officers a deductible when they reach four, nine, 14 and 19 years of service.
Today, lawmakers will also consider legislation to help victims of crime. They will consider House Bill 96, which would create a violence intervention program.
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According to a financial report by the Legislative Finance Committee, New Mexico’s violent crime rate has been at least 19% higher than the national average since 1992. The report generally blames poverty, drug use and persistent unemployment for the state’s crime.
To address the problems, House Bill 96 would create a fund accessible to the state Department of Health. The Department of Health could use the money to provide grants to state, county, municipal, or tribal governments that are disproportionately affected by violent crime. The money would fund programs aimed at reducing gun violence.
In addition to overall legislation related to crime, here are some other important issues to consider:
GPS data for suspected criminals
- Today the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet to consider legislation.
- In addition to other topics, they will consider Senate Bill 225. The bill would require any public entity or agency that tracks suspected criminal suspects via the Global Positioning System (GPS) to share that data with law enforcement officials in certain cases.
- KRQE News 13 previously reported high-profile cases in which defendants were released before trial, only to commit crimes in the meantime. This bill aims to better monitor violent criminals while they await trial.
- Senate Bill 225 is a replacement for the original version of House Bill 5, a bill related to the detention of defendants prior to trial.
Children’s Code and National Gambling
- Today the Senate Rules Committee will meet to consider several resolutions and memoranda.
- On the agenda is Senate Memorial 20, which will mandate a New Mexico Supreme Court commission to review the state’s children’s law.
- The Children’s Code is the national law relating to the health, safety and care of children. The memorial notes that community members have called for a more “responsive” children’s code.
- The memorial asks the commission to examine whether there is room for improvement. It also asks the Commission to consider input from a long list of stakeholders.
- The Senate Rules Committee will also review Senate Memorial 25, which is asking several agencies to look into statewide gambling and horse racing.
- The idea would be to make the gambling industry competitive with other states, according to the memorial.
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