Other provisions of the bill include the waiver of qualified immunity, which would make it easier for the public to sue an official or official.
House Speaker Brian Egolf is a co-founder of the bill.
“We will begin to make the New Mexico Constitution more of a living document. Something that has greater meaning to the people of our state and will also hold officials and employees accountable for wrongdoing,” said Spokesman Egolf.
Elisha Lucero’s sister, who was shot dead more than 20 times by Bernalillo sheriff’s deputies, spoke out in favor of the bill on Monday.
“Qualified immunity is really a shield when it comes to wrongdoing, and it gives police officers a free card that is completely fake,” she said.
Opponents of the bill fear that state and local governments cannot afford the cost of lawsuits filed under the law, saying that money should be better spent on training police to prevent wrongdoing in the first place.
Roswell Mayor Dennis Kintigh, a former law enforcement officer, explained to lawmakers why he was against the bill.
“I’m telling you if, like me, you’re on the street and have to make split-second decisions, you don’t have the hindsight luxury of 2020. The concept of qualified immunity is that the officers involved are acting in good faith and when they are turns out to be right why punish those who strive to do what is right, “he said.
HB 4 now heads its second in-house committee.
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