S 288 LAW ENFORCEMENT FUND DISTRIBUTION

Sen Leo Jaramillo

Actions: [6] SHPAC/SFC-SHPAC [9] DNP-CS/DP-SFC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 Senate Bill 288 (SB 288) relates to law enforcement and requires the Department of Finance and Administration to establish a program to distribute funds allocated for New Mexico law enforcement and statewide law enforcement support.  

 Senate Bill 288 (SB 288) amends Section 9-6-5.3 NMSA 1978 by requiring the Department of Finance and Administration to establish a program to distribute funds to state and local law enforcement agencies.  Such programs must be aimed at preventing crime and improving public safety.  
The bill allows agencies to use the funds for recruitment and for retention stipends to both officers and civilian personnel within police agencies, so long as their positions directly support commissioned police officers and crime reduction efforts.  The bill includes the following as able to be recipients of the funds: dispatchers, administrative personnel, civilian crime scene technicians, evidence custodians, forensic lab personnel, public service aides, cold case investigators, investigative analysts and unmanned aerial vehicle operators.  

 

 The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee Substitute for SB 288 requires the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) to establish a program to distribute funds appropriated to the department for law enforcement and statewide enforcement support.  DFA must establish criteria to distribute these funds to local agencies to prevent crime and improve public safety.  Law enforcement agencies may use the funds for commissioned officers or civilian personnel whose positions directly support officers and crime reduction efforts.  Such civilians include dispatchers, police administrative personnel, crime scene technicians, evidence custodians, lab personnel, public service aids, cold case investigators, investigative analysts and unmanned aerial vehicle operators.