The bill amends New Mexico laws concerning driving under the influence (DUI) by expanding the list of medical professionals authorized to perform blood tests for chemical analysis. It allows emergency medical technicians, certified phlebotomists, and hospital technologists to withdraw blood, while also providing them with legal protections against civil or criminal liability, except in cases of negligence. Additionally, the bill strengthens penalties for individuals who refuse chemical testing, particularly in serious cases involving great bodily injury or felonies, which may lead to aggravated charges and a one-year driver's license revocation.

Moreover, the bill revises the process for revoking driving privileges for DUI arrests, allowing law enforcement to revoke licenses based on a signed statement of reasonable grounds and chemical test results. It specifies revocation periods based on age and prior offenses, and introduces new definitions related to cannabis and cannabis extracts. The legislation aims to enhance DUI enforcement and clarify the legal framework for chemical testing, ensuring that qualified medical personnel are involved while protecting them from liability when acting under law enforcement directives.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 66-8-102, 66-8-103, 66-8-104, 66-8-111, 66-8-111.1, 66-13-6, 66-13-7