This bill seeks to strengthen 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 offenses from the time they are reported to law enforcement. Additionally, the bill raises the age of victims in sexual exploitation cases from sixteen to eighteen years and amends the definition of human trafficking. It introduces a definition for "harm" and prohibits the use of certain defenses in prosecutions, ensuring that a victim's sexual history or consent cannot be used as a defense. The bill also expands the Victims of Crime Act to include victims of these crimes, enhancing protections for them.

Moreover, the legislation modifies existing laws regarding meritorious deductions for prisoners, specifying that those in federal or out-of-state facilities must actively participate in available programs to qualify for deductions. If no programs are available, they can still earn deductions at a rate equivalent to what they could have earned. The bill ensures that prisoners in private correctional facilities have the same eligibility for deductions as those in state-run facilities. It clarifies definitions related to meritorious deductions, introduces a new category of serious violent offenses that includes human trafficking, and outlines conditions for offenders on parole to earn deductions, emphasizing compliance with parole conditions. The corrections department and the adult parole board are tasked with creating rules to implement these changes.

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