This bill is a memorial that requests collaboration among key stakeholders to address the recruitment and retention challenges faced by instructors at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. It calls for a designee from the Department of Public Safety, the Director and Deputy Director of Training for the Academy, and a representative from the Public Employees Retirement Association to study these issues and provide a consensus recommendation to the legislative interim committee responsible for reviewing investments and pensions by September 15, 2025. The bill highlights the significant barriers posed by the current retirement eligibility requirements, which make it difficult for the Academy to attract and retain qualified instructors.

The memorial emphasizes that the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy is currently only 40% staffed in instructor roles, largely due to the disparity in retirement benefits compared to municipal law enforcement positions. It points out that potential instructor candidates are deterred by the requirement to switch from a twenty-year retirement plan to a twenty-five-year plan, which creates a significant obstacle for recruitment and retention. The bill aims to facilitate discussions among stakeholders to find solutions that will enhance the Academy's ability to hire and keep skilled instructors, ultimately improving the quality of law enforcement training in New Mexico.