SENATE BILL 229

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Gay G. Kernan

AN ACT

RELATING TO CRIMINAL SENTENCING; PROVIDING FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF A BASIC SENTENCE IF A PERSON SIXTY YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER IS INTENTIONALLY INJURED IN THE COMMISSION OF A NONCAPITAL FELONY; REQUIRING CONCURRENT SENTENCING WITH OTHER ENHANCEMENTS; REMOVING AGE STATUS FROM THE HATE CRIMES ACT.

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Criminal Sentencing Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] INJURY TO PERSONS SIXTY YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER--ALTERATION OF BASIC SENTENCE.--

          A. When a separate finding of fact by the court or jury shows beyond a reasonable doubt that in the commission of a noncapital felony a person sixty years of age or older was intentionally injured, the basic sentence of imprisonment prescribed for the offense in Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978 shall be increased as follows:

                (1) if the injury inflicted is not likely to cause death or great bodily harm but does cause painful temporary disfigurement or temporary loss or impairment of the functions of any member or organ of the body, the basic sentence shall be increased by one year; provided that when the offender is a serious youthful offender or a youthful offender, the sentence imposed by this paragraph may be increased by one year; and

                (2) if the injury inflicted causes great bodily harm or is done with a deadly weapon or in any manner whereby great bodily harm or death could be inflicted, the basic sentence shall be increased by two years; provided that when the offender is a serious youthful offender or a youthful offender, the sentence imposed by this paragraph may be increased by two years.

          B. If the case is tried before a jury and if a prima facie case has been established showing that in the commission of the offense a person sixty years of age or older was intentionally injured, the court shall submit the issue to the jury by special interrogatory. If the case is tried by the court and if a prima facie case has been established showing that in the commission of the offense a person sixty years of age or older was intentionally injured, the court shall decide the issue by a separate finding of fact.

          C. Any alteration of the basic sentence of imprisonment pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be served concurrently with any other enhancement of the basic sentence pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Sentencing Act."

     SECTION 2. Section 31-18B-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2003, Chapter 384, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:

     "31-18B-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Hate Crimes Act:

          [A. "age" means sixty years of age or older;

          B.] A. "gender identity" means a person's self-perception, or perception of that person by another, of the person's identity as a male or female based upon the person's appearance, behavior or physical characteristics that are in accord or opposed to the person's physical anatomy, chromosomal sex or sex at birth;

          [C.] B. "disability" means that the person has a physical or mental disability that substantially limits one or more of that person's functions, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working;

          [D.] C. "motivated by hate" means the commission of a crime with the intent to commit the crime because of the actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, [age] handicapped status, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity of the victim, whether or not the offender's belief or perception was correct; and

          [E.] D. "sexual orientation" means heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality, whether actual or perceived."

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2013.

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