Santa Fe, NM – Two bills to strengthen protections for New Mexico’s children passed the House of Representatives today. The bills, HB 68 and HB 69, are sponsored by Rep. Conrad James. HB 68 passed by a vote of 61-1 and HB 69 passed by a vote of 63-0.
“We must do everything we can to deter crimes against children,” said James. “Intentional child abuse is unconscionable and intolerable. These bills will help stop child abusers from hurting other kids, and I hope the Senate will act on them quickly.”
HB 68 will increase the penalty for the first offense of intentional child abuse from a third degree felony to a second degree felony. The penalty for subsequent offenses would be increased from a second degree felony to a first degree felony.
HB 69 will broaden Baby Brianna’s Law to include all children under the age of 18. The law is named after Brianna Lopez, an infant who was killed by members of her family in 2002. Currently, individuals who intentionally abuse a child resulting in the death of the child face life in prison only if the child is under the age of 12. James’s proposal would make all acts of child abuse resulting in the death of the child punishable by life imprisonment, regardless of the age of the child.
The two bills are similar to legislation James sponsored last year. The legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 50-10, but it died in the Senate.