The bill establishes a uniform procedure for civil investigative demands by the New Mexico Attorney General, aimed at enhancing the state's ability to conduct civil investigations. A new section is added to Chapter 8, Article 5 NMSA 1978, detailing the process for issuing civil investigative demands, which allows the Attorney General to require individuals to produce documents or answer interrogatories relevant to a civil investigation. The demands are not public records and must adhere to specific guidelines, including a minimum notice period of ten days for compliance. Additionally, the bill outlines the conditions under which the Attorney General can seek court enforcement of these demands and provides protections for privileged information.

The bill also amends existing laws related to penalties for violations of the Tobacco Escrow Fund Act and the Affordable Housing Act, removing outdated provisions regarding civil investigative demands and replacing them with the new uniform procedure. It repeals several sections of the NMSA that are no longer applicable, streamlining the legal framework surrounding civil investigations. Overall, the bill aims to modernize and clarify the process for civil investigative demands while ensuring that the rights of individuals are protected during investigations.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 6-4-22, 6-27-9, 57-22-9.1