The bill amends Section 30-18-9 of the New Mexico Statutes to revise the penalties associated with cockfighting, aligning them more closely with those for dog fighting. It establishes that it is unlawful for any person to cause, sponsor, arrange, hold, or participate in fights between dogs or cocks for monetary gain or entertainment. The bill specifies that participation includes being present at a cockfight without attempting to stop it or owning/equipping a participating cock with knowledge of the contest.

Additionally, the bill removes the previous tiered penalty structure specifically for cockfighting, which classified offenses as a petty misdemeanor for a first conviction, a misdemeanor for a second, and a fourth-degree felony for a third or subsequent conviction. Instead, it establishes that any violation of the provisions related to both dogs and cocks is now classified as a fourth-degree felony, thereby increasing the severity of the penalties for cockfighting to match those for dog fighting.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 30-18-9