HB 285 PUBLIC SAFETY RECRUITMENT BUREAU

Rep Reena C Szczepanski

Actions: [5] not prntd-HRC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 House Bill 285 (HB 285):  This legislative proposal focuses on various aspects related to public safety, law enforcement recruitment, and training. This bill reflects an effort to enhance the recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers and telecommunicators, with an added focus on diversity, mentorship, and modernized recruitment strategies.  

 House Bill 285 (HB 285):
1. Creation of Public Safety Recruitment Bureau:
•	Establishes the "Public Safety Recruitment Bureau" within the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy.
•	This Act proposes to assist the state and political subdivisions in recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers.

2. Centralized Recruitment Website:
•	The Bureau will develop and maintain a centralized recruitment website serving as a one-stop portal for participating agencies to advertise job opportunities.
•	Allows individuals to search for employment information based on various criteria.

3. Media Campaign:
•	Proposes a comprehensive media campaign to attract applicants to law enforcement or telecommunicator careers in New Mexico.
•	Involves the development of a media strategy to reach potential candidates.

4. Advisory Committee:
•	Establishes an advisory committee to provide guidance on website and media campaign development.
•	Includes members from the council, board, representatives of law enforcement and safety agencies, and others appointed by the secretary of public safety.

5. Mentorship Programs:
•	Encourages law enforcement agencies to develop mentoring, coaching, and peer assistance programs for newly certified and other law enforcement officers.

6. Recruitment Plans for Diversity:
•	Mandates law enforcement agencies to prepare plans to recruit officers from underrepresented demographic groups to ensure force diversity.
•	Sets a goal for at least thirty percent of the law enforcement agency's force to be women by 2030.

7. Amendments to Law Enforcement Retention Fund:
•	Expands the Law Enforcement Retention Fund to include public safety telecommunicators.
•	Allocates funds for the New Mexico Law Enforcement Standards and Training Council to develop new basic and in-service training for telecommunicators.

8. Appropriations:
•	Specifies appropriations from the general fund for various purposes, including bureau salaries, website development, media strategy, outreach programs, mentoring programs, and telecommunicator training.

Fiscal Appropriations:
•	Public Safety Recruitment Bureau Salaries and Benefits: $500,000
•	Development and Implementation of Recruitment Website: $250,000
•	Recruitment Media Strategy: $5,250,000
•	Outreach Programs for Female High School Students: $325,000
•	Mentoring, Coaching, and Peer Assistance Programs: $250,000
•	Expansion of Law Enforcement Retention Fund: $500,000
•	Telecommunicator Training: $300,000