Summary:

 Senate Bill 50 (SB 50):  This act integrates telecommunicators into existing retention and training frameworks, enhances professional standards, expands accreditation, and modernizes police officer and telecommunicator education across New Mexico to align with national best practices and emerging public safety challenges. 

Legislation Overview:

 Senate Bill 50 (SB 50):  This legislation broadens and modernizes several aspects of New Mexico’s Law Enforcement Training Act and related statutes. It adds:
1.	Telecommunicators to the Law Enforcement Retention Fund - 
Telecommunicators (public safety dispatchers) are now eligible for retention differential disbursements under the Law Enforcement Retention Fund, similar to certified police officers.
a)	Adjusts definitions of “full-time certified law enforcement officer,” “telecommunicator” and “safety agency” to integrate telecommunicators into the retention program.
2.	Expands and Updates Definitions - 
Changes the term “law enforcement officer” to “police officer” throughout relevant statutes.
b)	Refines or creates new definitions, including “satellite academy,” “public safety telecommunicator,” “safety agency,” “faculty certification,” “job task analysis,” and “performance.”
3.	Restructures Training Responsibilities - 
New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy (NMLEA) remains under the Department of Public Safety, but its focus expands to include all police officer and telecommunicator basic training, continuing education, and faculty credentialing.
c)	The New Mexico Law Enforcement Standards and Training Council (the “council”) gains additional oversight duties to:
a.	Develop all law enforcement education programs (e.g., basic, advanced, specialty, telecommunicator) with periodic reviews to align with national best practices.
b.	Oversee satellite law enforcement academies with new accreditation requirements.
c.	Approve curricula for basic training, continuing education, and field training, ensuring consistency statewide.
4.	New Accreditation and Certification Requirements - 
The NMLEA must obtain national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) by January 1, 2029.
Satellite academies must align with new accreditation standards to maintain eligibility for law enforcement protection fund disbursements. Failure to maintain accreditation or certification can lead to withholding of these funds.
5.	Changes to Oversight Boards and Councils - 
New Mexico Law Enforcement Standards and Training Council membership is updated:
a.	Adds representation from tribal law enforcement, telecommunicators, various regions of the state, higher education, and behavioral health.
b.	Removes the requirement for Senate confirmation of the governor’s appointees.
c.	Law Enforcement Certification Board membership is also revised to include telecommunicators and other diverse perspectives.
6.	Curriculum and Training Updates - 
Mandates a job task analysis every five years to ensure training (basic through executive level) matches modern policing realities.
Specifies ongoing reviews of continuing education programs, specialty training, scenario-based learning, and the integration of evidence-based and nationally recognized best practices.
Adds standardized criteria for evaluating proficiency in critical areas (e.g., de-escalation, crisis response).
7.	Appropriations for Modernization - 
Allocates $1 million in total from the general fund to the Department of Public Safety to:
a.	Conduct a job task analysis for telecommunicators, modernize telecommunicator training, and align it with new technology and crisis response trends.
b.	Develop new curricula and testing for public safety telecommunicator training and new in-service programs for all police officers.
c.	Allows additional requests of up to $100,000 for satellite academies needing resources to meet expanded curriculum and simulation needs.
8.	Additional Statutory Adjustments - 	
Repeals certain sections to consolidate training provisions under the Law Enforcement Training Act.
Streamlines reporting and compliance requirements, including roster submissions and continuing education verifications, to maintain funding eligibility under the Law Enforcement Protection Fund.
 

Current Law:

 The 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, allowed retention differential 
disbursements for full-time certified law enforcement officers who have been employed 
by a law enforcement agency for the required years of service, provided a new retention 
differential disbursement for full-time certified law enforcement officers with twenty or 
more years of service, and required law enforcement agencies to comply with the law 
enforcement training act and to submit additional information to receive retention 
differential disbursements.