The bill amends Section 28-2-5 of the New Mexico Statutes to clarify that the Criminal Offender Employment Act does not apply to specific agencies, including law enforcement agencies, the early childhood education and care department, agencies considering applicants for caregiver positions, the children, youth and families department, and the public education department. This exemption allows these agencies to operate outside the constraints of the Criminal Offender Employment Act when evaluating applicants for employment or licensure.

Additionally, the bill mandates that exempt agencies must create and implement rules regarding criminal history screening to determine eligibility for employment or licensure. The legislation emphasizes that while these agencies are exempt from the act, they still have the discretion to adopt its policies if they choose. The bill is declared an emergency measure, necessitating immediate effect for the public peace, health, and safety.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 28-2-5
Final Version: 28-2-5