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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates House Bill 284

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

New Mexico Livestock Board

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SJC Amendment

The Senate Judiciary Committee amendment to Senate Bill 64 changes the word shall to the word may on page 1, line 19 of the bill. With this amendment, livestock inspectors may enforce criminal laws relating to livestock, as opposed to shall enforce.

Synopsis of Original Bill

Senate Bill 64 adds language to Chapter 30, Article 18 NMSA 1978 which clarifies that Livestock Board inspectors have jurisdiction over all criminal activity involving livestock.

Significant Issues

This bill would clearly grant livestock inspectors, who are certified peace officers, the power to enforce the provisions of Chapter 30, Article 18 NMSA 1978 and other criminal laws relating to livestock.

According to the New Mexico Livestock Board, livestock inspectors have been enforcing the Criminal Code pertaining to livestock for decades. In a recent court case involving cruelty to livestock, however, the court ruled that livestock inspectors' powers of enforcement were limited only to the Livestock Code. This bill will allow livestock inspectors to continue to enforce criminal laws relating to livestock, which include the laws prohibiting larceny of livestock, illegal branding, interstate transportation without an inspection, and the cruelty statutes in Chapter 30, Article 18 NMSA 1978.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no appropriation or fiscal impact associated with this bill.

LG/njw