Education (School Safety)

SB 311 increases penalties for violence against school employees in New Mexico by reclassifying certain assaults and batteries as higher-level felonies. It specifically targets attacks on teachers, administrators, and school board members while they are performing their duties, with enhanced penalties for using weapons, disguises, or threatening behavior. The bill also creates new offenses for assault and battery occurring on school campuses generally (not just against employees), defining these as felonies based on the severity of the act. Key provisions include upgrading simple battery on school staff to a third-degree felony and imposing second-degree felony charges for aggravated battery causing serious harm or using deadly weapons. This legislation directly affects school employees and anyone committing violent acts on school property during school hours.

HB 120 limits the use of physical restraint and seclusion in New Mexico public schools. It bans chemical, mechanical, prone restraint, and unsupervised seclusion, allowing physical restraint or seclusion only when a student poses imminent serious harm and less restrictive options fail. Schools must train staff in de-escalation and positive behavior strategies, document all restraint/seclusion use, and create safety plans with input from special education experts. The bill directly affects all public school students in New Mexico by restricting potentially harmful interventions and requiring staff to prioritize safer alternatives.