SENATE MEMORIAL 38

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2017

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE NEW MEXICO COALITION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT PROGRAMS TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO CREATE A STATEWIDE HEALTH PLAN DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE STRANGULATION AND TO ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM HEALTH IMPLICATIONS.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has the second-highest domestic violence rate in the United States, and sixty-eight percent of all domestic violence victims will experience near-fatal strangulation as a consequence of domestic violence; and

     WHEREAS, often, even in fatal cases, there is no external evidence of injury from strangulation; and

     WHEREAS, because of underlying brain damage due to the lack of oxygen during the strangulation assault, victims may have serious internal injuries or die days or even weeks later; and

     WHEREAS, anoxic brain injury from strangulation may occur within seconds and death within minutes; and

     WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies may underestimate the significance of strangulation and its potential lethality and fail to make appropriate medical referrals; and

     WHEREAS, some first responders and emergency room personnel lack training to identify the signs and symptoms of strangulation and often focus on visible, obvious injuries, such as stab wounds or contusions; and

     WHEREAS, a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach is needed from law enforcement, first responders and the medical community to effectively address strangulation, reduce children's exposure to violence and end the cycle of violence; and

     WHEREAS, the injury prevention program of the department of health is charged with the promotion of programs and policies focusing on the prevention of sexual violence and intimate partner violence;  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico coalition against domestic violence and the New Mexico coalition of sexual assault programs be requested to convene a task force to create a statewide health plan to reduce the incidence of interpersonal violence strangulation and to address its long-term health implications; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the secretary of health be requested to appoint a member of the epidemiology and response division of the department of health to the task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to include participation from the New Mexico coalition against domestic violence, the New Mexico coalition of sexual assault programs, the coalition to stop violence against native women, the crime victims reparation commission, the Santa Fe coordinated community response council, the university of New Mexico health sciences center, the Indian health service and a medical first responder agency; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force also be requested to include participation from a sexual assault nurse examiner, a law enforcement officer with expertise in domestic violence, a medical professional with expertise in the area of anoxic brain injury caused by strangulation and other appropriate entities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force present its recommendations to the legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee by November 30, 2017; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chair of the legislative finance committee, the chair of the legislative health and human services committee, the secretary of health, the executive director of the New Mexico coalition against domestic violence and the executive director of the New Mexico coalition of sexual assault programs.

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