HB 216

Page 1

AN ACT

RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE; PROVIDING FOR A SUBSTITUTE ADDRESS

FOR A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.

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

Section 1. A new section of the Family Violence

Protection Act is enacted to read:

"SUBSTITUTE ADDRESS.--

A. A victim of domestic abuse, or the victim's

representative pursuant to Section 31-26-3 NMSA 1978, who has

good reason to believe that the victim's safety is at risk may

apply to the secretary of state for the use of the secretary

of state as a substitute address. The application shall be on

a form provided by the secretary of state and shall include:

(1) a statement that the secretary of state

is acting as an agent of the victim for purposes of the

forwarding of mail;

(2) a mailing address for forwarding

received mail and a telephone number where the victim can be

contacted by the secretary of state;

(3) payment of a seventy-five-dollar

($75.00) application fee, which may be waived if the applicant

is indigent; and

(4) the signature of the victim or the

victim's representative.

B. The secretary of state shall maintain a

confidential record of applications for a substitute address

and forward any mail received on behalf of a victim of

domestic abuse to the new mailing address provided on the

application."

Section 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the

provisions of this act is July 1, 2007.

HB 216

Page 2