The bill seeks to rename the "Family Violence Protection Act" to the "Protection Against Abuse and Violence Act," broadening the scope of protection against various forms of abuse, including domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. It introduces new definitions and clarifies procedures for obtaining orders of protection, allowing qualified electors to participate in a confidential address program to enhance their safety during voter registration. The bill also ensures that victims are not responsible for the costs associated with legal proceedings related to protection orders and establishes requirements for domestic violence offender treatment programs.

Additionally, the bill amends several sections of New Mexico law to streamline legal processes related to domestic violence and arbitration in family law cases. It emphasizes the responsibilities of law enforcement in responding to domestic abuse incidents and mandates that health care professionals document instances of abuse. The bill prohibits the public disclosure of information that could reveal the identity or location of individuals protected under orders of protection, while also allowing for necessary information sharing for enforcement. It introduces provisions for domestic abuse leave for employees and sets an effective date for the new provisions to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 1-4-5.1, 29-15-2, 30-1-15, 31-12-12, 32A-2-3, 30-2-1, 40-4-7.2, 40-13-1, 40-13-2, 40-13-3, 40-13-3.1, 40-13-3.2, 40-13-4, 40-13-5, 40-13-5.1, 40-13-6, 40-13-7, 40-13-7.1, 40-13-9, 40-13-10, 40-13-12, 40-13B-2, 50-4A-2, 40-13-1.1