46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT; REVISING THE DEFINITIONS FOR SEX OFFENDER AND SEX OFFENSE; LENGTHENING REGISTRATION PERIODS FOR SEX OFFENDERS; REQUIRING A SEX OFFENDER TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION; AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION ACT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 29-11A-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, Chapter 106, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

"29-11A-2. FINDINGS--PURPOSE.--

A. The legislature finds that:

(1) sex offenders pose a significant risk of recidivism; and

(2) the efforts of law enforcement agencies to protect their communities from sex offenders are impaired by the lack of information available concerning convicted sex offenders who live within the agencies' jurisdictions.

B. The purpose of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is to assist law enforcement agencies' efforts to protect their communities by:

(1) requiring sex offenders who are residents of New Mexico to register with the county sheriff of the county in which the sex offender resides;

(2) requiring sex offenders who are residents in other states, but who are employed in New Mexico, [or who] attend school in New Mexico or visit New Mexico for more than twenty-four hours, to register with the county sheriff of the county in which the sex offender works, [or] attends school or visits;

(3) requiring the establishment of a central registry for sex offenders; and

(4) providing public access to information regarding certain registered sex offenders."

Section 2. Section 29-11A-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, Chapter 106, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:

"29-11A-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act:

A. "sex offender" means a person [eighteen years of age or older] who:

(1) is a resident of New Mexico who is convicted of a sex offense in New Mexico;

(2) changes his residence to New Mexico, when that person has been convicted of a sex offense in another state pursuant to state, federal or military law;

(3) is a resident of New Mexico who is convicted of a sex offense pursuant to federal or military law; or

(4) is a resident of another state and who has been convicted of a sex offense pursuant to state, federal or military law, but who is:

(a) employed full time or part time in New Mexico for a period of time exceeding fourteen days or for an aggregate period of time exceeding thirty days during any calendar year; [or]

(b) enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis in a private or public school in New Mexico, including a secondary school, a trade school, a professional institution or an institution of higher education; [and] or

(c) a visitor from another state and will be in New Mexico for more than twenty-four hours; and

B. "sex offense" means:

(1) criminal sexual penetration in the first, second, third or fourth degree, as provided in Section 30-9-11 NMSA 1978;

(2) criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, as provided in Section 30-9-12 NMSA 1978;

(3) criminal sexual contact of a minor in the third or fourth degree, as provided in Section 30-9-13 NMSA 1978;

(4) sexual exploitation of children, as provided in [Subsection A, B or C of] Section 30-6A-3 NMSA 1978;

(5) sexual exploitation of children by prostitution, as provided in Section 30-6A-4 NMSA 1978;

(6) kidnapping, as provided in Section

30-4-1 NMSA 1978, when the victim is less than eighteen years of age and the offender is not a parent of the victim;

(7) false imprisonment, as provided in Section 30-4-3 NMSA 1978, when the victim is less than eighteen years of age and the offender is not a parent of the victim;

(8) aggravated indecent exposure, as provided in Section 30-9-14.3 NMSA 1978;

(9) enticement of a child, as provided in Section 30-9-1 NMSA 1978;

[(8)] (10) solicitation to commit criminal sexual contact of a minor in the third or fourth degree, as provided in Sections 30-9-13 and 30-28-3 NMSA 1978; or

[(9)] (11) attempt to commit any of the sex offenses set forth in Paragraphs (1) through [(7)] (8) of this subsection, as provided in Section 30-28-1 NMSA 1978."

Section 3. Section 29-11A-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, Chapter 106, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

"29-11A-4. REGISTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS--INFORMATION REQUIRED--CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.--

A. A sex offender residing in this state shall register with the county sheriff for the county in which the sex offender resides.

B. A sex offender who is a current resident of New Mexico shall register with the county sheriff no later than [ten days] twenty-four hours after being released from the custody of the corrections department or being placed on probation or parole. A sex offender who changes his residence to New Mexico shall register with the county sheriff no later than [ten days] twenty-four hours after establishing residence in this state. When a sex offender registers with the county sheriff, he shall provide the following registration information:

(1) his legal name and any other names or aliases that he is using or has used;

(2) his date of birth;

(3) his social security number;

(4) [his current address] all residences he owns, specifying which address is his primary residence;

(5) his motor vehicle registration information with a description of all motor vehicles owned;

[(5)] (6) his place of employment;

[(6)] (7) the sex offense for which he was convicted; and

[(7)] (8) the date and place of his sex offense conviction.

C. A sex offender who is a resident of another state but who is employed in New Mexico or attending school in New Mexico shall register with the county sheriff for the county in which the sex offender is working or attending school.

D. A sex offender who is a resident of another state but who is employed in New Mexico, [or] attending school in New Mexico or visiting New Mexico shall register with the county sheriff no later than [ten days] twenty-four hours after beginning work, [or] school or his visit. When the sex offender registers with the county sheriff, he shall provide the following registration information:

(1) his legal name and any other names or aliases that he is using or has used;

(2) his date of birth;

(3) his social security number;

(4) his current address in his state of residence and, if applicable, the address of his place of lodging in New Mexico while he is working, [or] attending school or visiting;

(5) his motor vehicle registration information and a description of all motor vehicles owned or that will be used in New Mexico by him while he is working, attending school or visiting;

[(5)] (6) his place of employment or the name of the school he is attending;

[(6)] (7) the sex offense for which he was convicted; and

[(7)] (8) the date and place of his sex offense conviction.

E. When a sex offender registers with a county sheriff, the sheriff shall obtain:

(1) a photograph of the sex offender, [and] a complete set of the sex offender's fingerprints and a DNA sample; and

(2) a description of any tattoos, scars or other distinguishing features on the sex offender's body that would assist in identifying the sex offender.

F. When a sex offender who is registered changes his residence within the same county, the sex offender shall send written notice of his change of address to the county sheriff [no later than ten days after] prior to establishing his new residence.

G. When a sex offender who is registered changes his residence to a new county in New Mexico, the sex offender shall register with the county sheriff of the new county no later than [ten days] twenty-four hours after establishing his new residence. The sex offender shall also send written notice of the change in residence to the county sheriff with whom he last registered no later than [ten days] twenty-four hours after establishing his new residence, including proof of the new residence.

H. Following his initial registration pursuant to the provisions of this section:

(1) a sex offender required to register pursuant to the provisions of Subsection D of Section

29-11A-5 NMSA 1978 shall [annually] renew his registration with the county sheriff [prior to December 31 of each subsequent calendar year for a period of twenty years] every ninety days following his initial registration for the entirety of his natural life; and

(2) a sex offender required to register pursuant to the provisions of Subsection E of Section

29-11A-5 NMSA 1978 shall [annually] renew his registration with the county sheriff [prior to December 31 of each subsequent calendar year] every ninety days following his initial registration for a period of [ten] twenty years.

I. A sex offender who willfully fails to comply with the registration requirements set forth in this section is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

J. A sex offender who willfully provides false information when complying with the registration requirements set forth in this section is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978."

Section 4. Section 29-11A-4.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2000, Chapter 8, Section 6) is amended to read:

"29-11A-4.1. PROCEDURES WHEN A SEX OFFENDER MOVES FROM NEW MEXICO TO ANOTHER STATE.--

A. If a sex offender intends to move from New Mexico to another state, no later than thirty days prior to moving to the other state, he shall:

(1) notify the county sheriff of the county he resides in that he is moving to the other state; and

(2) provide the county sheriff with a written notice that identifies the [state] new address of the residence to which the sex offender is moving.

B. Within five days of receiving a sex offender's written notice of intent to move to another state, the county sheriff shall transmit that information to the department of public safety. Within five days of receiving that information from a county sheriff, the department shall contact the state agency responsible for registering sex offenders in the state to which the sex offender is moving. The department shall provide that state agency with registration information regarding the sex offender. The department shall also obtain information regarding registration requirements for sex offenders in the state to which the sex offender is moving. The department shall provide the sex offender with written notification of the registration requirements in the state to which the sex offender is moving.

C. A sex offender who willfully fails to comply with the requirements set forth in this section is guilty of a [misdemeanor] fourth degree felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for a definite term [less than] of one year or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or both."

Section 5. Section 29-11A-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, Chapter 106, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:

"29-11A-5. LOCAL REGISTRY--CENTRAL REGISTRY--ADMINISTRATION BY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY--PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY--RULES.--

A. A county sheriff shall maintain a local registry of sex offenders in his jurisdiction required to register pursuant to the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

B. The county sheriff shall forward registration information obtained from sex offenders to the department of public safety. The initial registration information and any new registration information subsequently obtained from a sex offender shall be forwarded by the county sheriff no later than ten working days after the information is obtained from a sex offender. If the department of public safety receives information regarding a sex offender from a governmental entity other than a county sheriff, the department shall send that information to the county sheriff for the county in which the sex offender resides.

C. The department of public safety shall maintain a central registry of sex offenders required to register pursuant to the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. The department shall participate in the national sex offender registry administered by the United States department of justice. The department shall send conviction information and fingerprints for all sex offenders registered in New Mexico to the national sex offender registry administered by the United States department of justice and to the federal bureau of investigation.

D. The department of public safety shall retain registration information regarding sex offenders convicted for the following sex offenses for [a period of twenty years following the sex offender's conviction, release from prison or release from probation or parole, whichever occurs later] the entirety of the sex offender's natural life:

(1) criminal sexual penetration in the first or second degree, as provided in Section 30-9-11 NMSA 1978;

(2) criminal sexual contact of a minor in the third or fourth degree, as provided in Section 30-9-13 NMSA 1978;

(3) sexual exploitation of children, as provided in [Subsection A, B or C of] Section 30-6A-3 NMSA 1978;

(4) kidnapping, as provided in Section

30-4-1 NMSA 1978, when the victim is less than eighteen years of age and the offender is not a parent of the victim; [or]

(5) aggravated indecent exposure, as provided in Section 30-9-14.3 NMSA 1978;

(6) enticement of a child, as provided in Section 30-9-1 NMSA 1978; or

[(5)] (7) attempt to commit any of the sex offenses set forth in Paragraphs (1) through [(4)] (5) of this subsection, as provided in Section 30-28-1 NMSA 1978.

E. The department of public safety shall retain registration information regarding sex offenders convicted for the following offenses for a period of ten years following the sex offender's conviction, release from prison or release from probation or parole, whichever occurs later:

(1) criminal sexual penetration in the third or fourth degree, as provided in Section 30-9-11 NMSA 1978;

(2) criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree, as provided in Section 30-9-12 NMSA 1978;

(3) criminal sexual contact of a minor in the fourth degree, as provided in Section 30-9-13 NMSA 1978;

(4) sexual exploitation of children by prostitution, as provided in Section 30-6A-4 NMSA 1978;

(5) false imprisonment, as provided in Section 30-4-3 NMSA 1978, when the victim is less than eighteen years of age and the offender is not a parent of the victim;

(6) solicitation to commit criminal sexual contact of a minor in the third or fourth degree, as provided in Sections 30-9-13 and 30-28-3 NMSA 1978; or

(7) attempt to commit any of the sex offenses set forth in Paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subsection, as provided in Section 30-28-1 NMSA 1978.

F. The department of public safety shall adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act."

Section 6. Section 29-11A-5.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1999, Chapter 19, Section 8, as amended) is amended to read:

"29-11A-5.1. PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION REGARDING CERTAIN REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS--ACTIVE COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION--INTERNET WEB SITE.--

A. If a sex offender is convicted of one of the following sex offenses, the county sheriff shall forward registration information obtained from the sex offender to the district attorney for the judicial district in which the sex offender resides and, if the sex offender is a resident of a municipality, the chief law enforcement officer for the municipality in which the sex offender resides:

(1) criminal sexual penetration in the first, [or] second or third degree, as provided in Section 30-9-11 NMSA 1978;

(2) criminal sexual contact of a minor in the third or fourth degree, as provided in Section 30-9-13 NMSA 1978;

(3) sexual exploitation of children, as provided in [Subsection A, B or C of] Section 30-6A-3 NMSA 1978;

(4) sexual exploitation of children by prostitution, as provided in Section 30-6A-4 NMSA 1978; or

(5) attempt to commit any of the sex offenses set forth in Paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection, as provided in Section 30-28-1 NMSA 1978.

B. A person who wants to obtain registration information regarding sex offenders described in Subsection A of this section may request that information from the:

(1) county sheriff for the county in which the sex offenders reside;

(2) chief law enforcement officer for the municipality in which the sex offenders reside;

(3) district attorney for the judicial district in which the sex offenders reside; or

(4) secretary of public safety.

C. Upon receiving a request for registration information regarding sex offenders described in Subsection A of this section, the county sheriff, chief municipal law enforcement officer, district attorney or secretary of public safety shall provide that registration information, with the exception of a sex offender's social security number, within a reasonable period of time, and no later than seven days after receiving the request.

D. Within seven days of receiving registration information from a sex offender described in Subsection A of this section, the county sheriff shall contact every licensed daycare center, elementary school, middle school and high school within a one-mile radius of the sex offender's residence and provide them with the sex offender's registration information, with the exception of the sex offender's social security number.

E. The department of public safety [may] shall establish and manage an internet web site that provides the public with registration information regarding sex offenders described in Subsection A of this section. The registration information provided to the public pursuant to this subsection shall not include a sex offender's social security number or a sex offender's place of employment, unless the sex offender's employment requires him to have direct contact with children."

Section 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2003.