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Bill Summary · HM 24

Summary of House Memorial 24 (HM 24) – Corrections & CYFD Staffing Levels

Purpose and intent

  • HM 24 requests the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) to convene a task force to study and make recommendations on safe, adequate staffing levels for all public safety positions within the New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) and the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD).
  • The memorial seeks to identify reasons for current staffing shortfalls, assess recruitment and retention efforts, and propose executive and legislative remedies, including potential appropriations.

Key provisions

  • Establishes a 13-member task force convened by the LFC.
  • Task force responsibilities include:
    • Recommending safe and adequate staffing levels for NMCD and CYFD public safety positions.
    • Analyzing current staffing levels, including shift patterns, posts, and job classifications.
    • Determining causes of inadequate staffing.
    • Evaluating current recruitment and retention strategies.
    • Recommending executive actions and potential legislative/appropriations measures to remedy staffing gaps.
    • Recommending any necessary legislation, including funding.
  • Requires public dissemination of the final report to key entities and posting on the Legislature’s website.

Task force composition

  • 13 members total, including:
    • A member from the State Personnel Office (appointed by the director).
    • A member from NMCD (appointed by the Secretary of Corrections).
    • A member from CYFD (appointed by the Secretary of CYFD).
    • Three CYFD employees (including at least one from Child Protective Services and at least one from a juvenile detention facility correctional setting), appointed by the executive director of the largest employee union representing NMCD and CYFD workers.
    • One member from the relevant union representing the largest number of NMCD/CYFD employees (appointed by that union’s executive director).
    • Two state representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House.
    • One state representative appointed by the House minority leader.
    • Two state senators appointed by the Senate majority leader.
    • One state senator appointed by the Senate minority leader.
  • The task force is to reflect a balance of agency leadership, frontline employees, and legislative participation.

Timeline and deliverables

  • Meetings: Monthly from May 2025 through November 2025.
  • Final report deadline: December 1, 2025.
  • Report accessibility: Posted on the Legislature’s website and delivered to CYFD, NMCD, the Governor, and each Legislator.
  • The memorial does not specify an effective date, but the fiscal note notes the act, if enacted, would take effect 90 days after adjournment (around June 20, 2025).

Fiscal implications

  • Estimated costs to convene the task force: approximately $5,000 for travel and mileage.
  • Estimated staffing cost: about 0.5 FTE (contractual) totaling roughly $60,000.
  • Total estimated 3-year cost (FY25–FY27): $65,000, nonrecurring, funded from the General Fund.
  • No appropriation is included in HM 24 itself.

Who is affected

  • Primary: NMCD and CYFD, including frontline staff (e.g., corrections officers, child protective services, juvenile detention facility staff).
  • Secondary: State agencies (State Personnel Office), employee unions representing NMCD/CYFD workers, the Legislature, the Governor, and the public who will access the final report.

Legislative status

  • Signed into law on April 22, 2025.
  • House actions: Passed House (March 19, 2025) and approved by the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee (February 27, 2025).
  • Committee report favored DO PASS with 5–3 vote.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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