The bill amends the Inspection of Public Records Act in New Mexico by introducing new exemptions and revising existing definitions and procedures. It replaces the previous exemption for records related to physical or mental examinations with a broader exemption for medical records. New exemptions include personal email addresses and phone numbers provided to public bodies, security system records, cybersecurity information, and records related to the acquisition of real property. The bill clarifies that while law enforcement records are generally public, there are exceptions regarding the identities of victims and witnesses in certain crimes, as well as protections for confidential informants. Additionally, it revises the procedures for requesting and denying access to public records, including a provision that tolls the response time for law enforcement records requests if a crime is reported.

The bill also introduces key definitions, such as "person," which excludes incarcerated individuals, and "private place," which refers to locations with a reasonable expectation of privacy. It establishes clearer procedures for submitting public records requests, increasing the response time from fifteen to twenty-one business days, and outlines conditions under which public bodies may charge fees for copying records. The enforcement section specifies that legal actions can only be brought against the public body, not individual custodians, and clarifies the court's authority to award damages, costs, or reasonable attorney fees to individuals whose requests have been denied, provided the public body did not act in good faith. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the protection of sensitive information while balancing the public's right to access government records.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 14-2-1, 14-2-1.2, 14-2-6, 14-2-8, 14-2-9, 14-2-11, 14-2-12