Round Up From The Roundhouse, From The New Mexico Republican House Caucus:
House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Protect CYFD Workers
Santa Fe, NM – The House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to protect employees of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) while performing their duties to safeguard New Mexico’s children. House Bill 142, sponsored by Reps. Jimmie Hall and Doreen Gallegos, passed the House by a unanimous vote of 67 to 0.
“Because of the sensitive nature of their work, CYFD workers must often intercede in highly volatile situations,” Hall said. “We must show these workers that we support them as they carry out their duties to protect children from unsafe environments.”
Current law enhances penalties for assaulting peace officers, but not public service workers such as juvenile probation officers or behavioral health therapists. The bill would establish offenses such as assault and battery of a public service worker as crimes in New Mexico statute.
Statistics show that public service workers have an increased risk of experiencing workplace violence. Half of human service professionals will confront client violence at some point during their careers, and 25 percent of professional social workers will encounter a violent situation while on the job.
House Approves Bill to Allow Uber and Lyft in NM with Bipartisan Support
Santa Fe, NM – Legislation clarifying regulations to allow ridesharing companies, like Uber and Lyft, to operate in New Mexico passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 58 to 8. House Bill 168 is sponsored by Rep. Monica Youngblood.
“Companies like Uber and Lyft represent the future of app-based transportation. We need to modernize our state regulations to make 21st century transportation options available to New Mexicans,” Youngblood said. “These services can also keep our roads safe by giving people an alternative to getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink. I urge the Senate to pass this bill and send it to the Governor for approval.”
Transportation network companies (TNCs) are using innovative technology and creating opportunities that did not exist a few years ago. New Mexico’s regulations have not kept pace with these innovative ride-sharing services, and they need to be updated to allow TNCs to operate in the state legally.
The provisions included in the bill will bring more safe and reliable transportation options to the state and provide jobs for New Mexicans. This legislation would clarify regulations in New Mexico and codify the highest safety standards for TNCs and ridesharing services, while at the same time giving New Mexicans better transportation options.
The bill would also require ridesharing companies to conduct rigorous background checks on drivers and require drivers and the company to obtain adequate insurance coverage in case of accident or injury.
House Unanimously Approves Bill to Teach Lifesaving Skills to NM Students
Santa Fe, NM – Today, a bill to include lifesaving skills instruction into the health curriculum for New Mexico students passed the House Floor by a unanimous 67-0 vote. House Bill 104 is sponsored by Rep. Terry McMillan.
“Teaching students CPR and how to spot the signs of heart attack could save lives,” McMillan said. “It makes sense to include this instruction in our health classes. I’m pleased that my colleagues in the House support this measure, and I am optimistic this bill will become law.”
The bill would direct the Public Education Department to implement guidelines for providing compression-only CPR training to students. In addition, students would be taught to recognize the signs of a heart attack, to use a defibrillator and to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
Bill to Close Dangerous Child Porn Loophole Unanimously Approved by NM House
Santa Fe, NM – House Bill 30, sponsored by Reps. Kelly Fajardo and Paul Pacheco, would close a loophole that allows predators to send pornographic pictures to children. The bill passed the House Floor today on a unanimous vote of 67 to 0.
“This loophole is leaving our kids vulnerable to child predators,” Fajardo said. “We cannot allow predators to send children pictures of their naked body or anyone else’s naked body. I urge the Senate to move quickly on this bill so that it can be put on the Governor’s desk.”
Currently, it is a fourth degree felony for an individual to send a picture of their own genitalia to a child, but there are no criminal penalties if person sends a pornographic picture of someone’s body. This bill would close the loophole by making it a fourth degree felony to send pornographic pictures of any naked body to a child under the age of 16.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the Senate failed to pass this bill the last two years even after it passed the House unanimously both times,” Fajardo said.
Last year the bill spent 45 days in the Senate before it died without being brought to a vote on the Senate Floor.
House Approves Bill to Crack Down on Domestic Violence
Santa Fe, NM – Today the House of Representatives approved a proposal authorizing law enforcement officers to quickly detain domestic violence suspects. The legislation, House Bill 86, passed the House by a vote of 64 to 0.
“I’m glad the House passed this bill,” Kelly Fajardo, the bill’s sponsor, said. “Domestic violence situations can escalate quickly, and law enforcement officers need this ability to detain suspects to protect families from further violence. I hope the Senate will move quickly and pass this bill as well.”
Currently, officers must obtain a warrant to arrest an individual who flees the scene of a suspected domestic violence incident. Fajardo’s bill would allow police to arrest a suspected offender within 10 hours of the incident without needing a warrant.
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House Committee Passes Legislation to Keep Certain Felons Behind Bars Longer
Santa Fe, NM – Today a bill that would require certain convicted felons to serve at least 85% of their prison sentences passed the House Regulatory and Public Affairs Committee on a 4-3 vote. The bill is sponsored by Reps. John Zimmerman and Alonzo Baldonado.
Under current law, prisoners can reduce the length of their prison terms by earning credit for good behavior. Some sentences can be reduced by as much as 50%. House Bill 305 would expand the list of crimes that reduce the rate at which prisoners can earn credit towards an early release. Prisoners convicted of these crimes would be required to serve a mandatory 85% of their prison term.
“Felons convicted of committing these terrible crimes should be punished accordingly,” Zimmerman said. “Reducing the rate these felons earn early release time will keep New Mexicans safer and hold dangerous criminals behind bars and off the streets longer.”
The enhanced sentencing would apply to individuals convicted of homicide or great bodily harm by a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and injury to a pregnant woman by vehicle. The sentencing standard would also apply minors who commit first-degree murder.
