This bill aims to enhance the legal framework addressing human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children in New Mexico. It establishes a six-year statute of limitations for prosecuting second-degree human trafficking crimes from the time the crime is reported to law enforcement. Additionally, it raises the age of victims in cases of sexual exploitation through prostitution from sixteen to eighteen years. The bill introduces a definition of "harm" and prohibits the use of certain defenses in prosecutions related to human trafficking and sexual exploitation, ensuring that a victim's sexual history or the consent of a minor cannot be used as a defense. It also amends the Victims of Crime Act to include protections for victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, while ensuring that individuals convicted of human trafficking are ineligible for earned meritorious deductions from their sentences.

Moreover, the bill classifies human trafficking as a serious violent offense, adding it to the list of crimes that may be judged as serious violent crimes, alongside offenses like voluntary manslaughter and aggravated battery. It removes the reference to battery upon a peace officer from this list. The bill outlines conditions for offenders sentenced to confinement to earn meritorious deductions while on parole, allowing non-sex offenders to receive up to thirty days of deductions per month based on compliance with parole conditions. It also mandates the creation of rules by the corrections department and adult parole board for implementing these provisions, including the potential removal of previously awarded deductions for non-compliance.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 30-1-8, 30-6A-4, 30-52-1, 31-26-3