SB 50 removes annual in-service training requirements for certified police officers and telecommunicators in New Mexico. It specifically eliminates the need for yearly refreshers on topics like domestic abuse incident training, child abuse incident training, mental health interaction, crisis de-escalation, and trauma kit use that were previously mandated under existing law. The bill retains basic training requirements but reduces the frequency of mandatory annual updates for officers and telecommunicators. This directly affects all certified law enforcement personnel and public safety telecommunicators statewide. The change streamlines training obligations without altering the core curriculum content for initial certification.
HB 61 increases penalties for assaulting police officers in New Mexico. It directly affects individuals who commit battery against officers while they are lawfully performing duties. The bill reclassifies two types of offenses: causing temporary disfigurement or loss of body function becomes a fourth-degree felony, while inflicting great bodily harm or using deadly weapons raises the charge to a second-degree felony. These changes modify existing criminal penalties under Section 30-22-25 of New Mexico law, making the most severe assaults carry significantly higher penalties.
SB 146 amends New Mexico's Civil Rights Act to change how people can sue government entities for rights violations. It directly affects residents who claim government actions violated their constitutional rights, such as police misconduct or school policies. Key changes include: reducing the maximum total damages from $2 million to $750,000 per incident (with separate limits for property, medical costs, and other damages), shortening the filing deadline from 3 to 2 years, requiring written notice before suing, and banning double recovery from both this act and the Tort Claims Act. The bill also removes punitive damages and clarifies that government employees can't sue under this act for job-related issues.
