SENATE BILL 271

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Timothy M. Keller and Al Park

AN ACT

RELATING TO INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS; PROVIDING CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE INSPECTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Inspection of Public Records Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] CRIMINAL PENALTIES.--

          A. A person who knowingly and in bad faith withholds public records subject to inspection pursuant to the Inspection of Public Records Act is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense.

          B. A person who knowingly and willfully destroys public records in order to circumvent a request for records pursuant to the Inspection of Public Records Act is guilty of a

fourth degree felony and shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978."

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