The bill amends existing New Mexico law regarding the qualifications for the appointment and certification of law enforcement officers. It specifies that individuals appointed as special deputy sheriffs, marshals, police officers, or other peace officers must either be citizens of the United States or have authorization to work from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. This requirement is reflected in the amendments to Section 29-1-9, Section 29-2-6, and Section 29-7-6 of the New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 1978, ensuring that all law enforcement personnel meet these citizenship or work authorization criteria.

Additionally, the bill maintains other qualifications for law enforcement officers, such as age, educational background, moral character, and physical and mental fitness. The amendments clarify that these requirements apply uniformly across various law enforcement roles, reinforcing the importance of citizenship or work authorization in maintaining the integrity and accountability of law enforcement agencies in New Mexico.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 29-1-9, 29-2-6, 29-7-6
Final Version: 29-1-9, 29-2-6, 29-7-6