SENATE BILL 288

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Leo Jaramillo and Susan K. Herrera

AN ACT

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR NEW MEXICO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT.

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

     SECTION 1. Section 9-6-5.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2022, Chapter 56, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "9-6-5.3. DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.--

          A. The department of finance and administration shall establish a program to distribute funds for local law enforcement agencies to provide recruitment and retention stipends to law enforcement officers. The program shall establish criteria for distribution of funds appropriated for that purpose, prioritizing recruitment and retention of personnel to increase investigative capacity. The program shall also establish appropriate guidelines on the use of those funds, including recruitment and retention stipends that may be distributed to:

                [A.] (1) a person who is not certified as a law enforcement officer pursuant to the Law Enforcement Training Act upon employment with a law enforcement agency; provided that the recipient successfully obtains such certification;

                [B.] (2) a person who is certified as a law enforcement officer pursuant to the Law Enforcement Training Act upon employment with a law enforcement agency; provided that the recipient remains employed with that agency for three months; and

                [C.] (3) a person who is certified as a law enforcement officer pursuant to the Law Enforcement Training Act currently employed by a law enforcement agency; provided that the law enforcement officer remains employed with that law enforcement officer's current agency for one additional year.

          B. The department of finance and administration shall establish a program to distribute funds to state and local law enforcement agencies to prevent crime and improve public safety. Law enforcement agencies may use the funds to provide recruitment and retention stipends to commissioned law enforcement officers or civilian personnel within the police agencies whose positions directly support commissioned police officers and crime reduction efforts, including dispatchers, police administrative personnel, civilian crime scene technicians, evidence custodians, forensic laboratory personnel, public service aides, cold case investigators, investigative analysts and unmanned aerial vehicle operators."

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