HOUSE MEMORIAL 35

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Pamelya Herndon and Patricia Roybal Caballero

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO ASSESS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER RETENTION FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OR FOR LATERAL HIRING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM OUT-OF-STATE AGENCIES TO NEW MEXICO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

     WHEREAS, crime rates in New Mexico for violent crime and property crime are significantly above national averages; and

     WHEREAS, there are not enough law enforcement officers to adequately address crime in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and national calls for police reform have impacted law enforcement officers, adding to staff shortages; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has called attention to the serious problem of a shortage of law enforcement officers during the 2022 legislative session with a budget request of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) and an additional one thousand law enforcement officers across the state; and

     WHEREAS, retention and recruitment of new law enforcement officers are also of critical importance; and

     WHEREAS, a task force of interested parties, convened by the department of public safety, could study incentives to create a path for retention and recruitment of law enforcement officers; and

     WHEREAS, programs and initiatives, including the implementation of a deferred retirement option plan, and return-to-work provisions to allow an officer to continue to draw pension benefits while working and contributing to law enforcement pension funds or to delay retirement benefits for a bigger payout later are options to be explored;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of public safety be requested to convene a task force to assess and make recommendations to provide incentives for law enforcement officer retention for twenty-five years or for lateral hiring of law enforcement officers from out-of-state agencies to New Mexico law enforcement agencies; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of representatives from the Albuquerque police department, a small police department from a rural area, the New Mexico state police, the New Mexico sheriffs' association, the senate, the house of representatives, the New Mexico state police association and three representatives from statewide community organizations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force present its findings and recommendations to the appropriate legislative interim committee that addresses courts, corrections and justice issues by November 1, 2022; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the legislative interim committee that addresses courts, corrections and justice issues, the chief of the Albuquerque police department, the chief of a small police department from a rural area, chosen by the task force, the acting chief of the New Mexico state police, the executive director of the New Mexico sheriffs' association, the governor, the president pro tempore of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the New Mexico state police association.

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