State of New Mexico
House of Representatives
Ben Lujan, Speaker of the House
Ken Martinez, House Majority Leader
Sheryl Williams Stapleton, House Majority Whip

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                                                  Contact:  Victoria Chávez 646-241-5335
February 10, 2009                                                                                                      Susan Tungate 505-577-8132
        
Rep. Cote’s Three-Year Ban of Domestic Violence Offenders as Police Unanimously Passes House

Santa Fe, NM – A bill sponsored by Rep. Nathan Cote (D-Las Cruces) that would prohibit domestic violence offenders from becoming law enforcement officers within three years of their violation unanimously passed the House of Representatives today.  House Bill 33 – No Domestic Violence Offenders as Police passed with a vote of 63-0. 

Rep. Cote, who has been the sponsor of numerous anti-domestic violence bills, said, “I am pleased to have the overwhelming support of the House for this important anti-domestic violence legislation – especially from my colleagues who were former officers themselves.   This bill is another step toward remedying our state’s domestic violence problem.”

House Bill 33 would prohibit persons who are convicted of a domestic violence offense against any household member from becoming law enforcement officers within three years of being convicted of that offense.   It would also allow the certification board to suspend or revoke an officer’s certification if convicted of a domestic violence offense.