The bill amends the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act to align with the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, introducing several key changes to enhance the registration and monitoring of sex offenders in New Mexico. It requires sex offenders to register with the county sheriff within three business days of their release or relocation to the state, and mandates that juvenile sex offenders register with the Children, Youth, and Families Department within the same timeframe. The bill also clarifies definitions related to sex offenders, establishes a central registry, and ensures public access to information about registered offenders. Additionally, it reduces the notification period for changes in personal information from five to three business days and introduces provisions for homeless offenders to register their locations.

Further amendments include the retention of registration information, requiring that tier 1 offenders' data be kept for fifteen years, while juvenile offenders' information is maintained until they turn twenty-one. The bill also stipulates that if a sex offender is convicted of a subsequent offense, their information will be retained for life. It updates public access provisions, ensuring that sensitive information is protected while allowing law enforcement and judicial authorities access to relevant data. The bill establishes penalties for non-compliance, classifying willful failures as fourth-degree felonies, escalating to third-degree felonies for repeat offenders, thereby aiming to improve community safety through better tracking and accountability of sex offenders.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 29-11A-2, 29-11A-3, 29-11A-4, 29-11A-4.1, 29-11A-5.1, 29-11A-7