AN ACT

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT; ENACTING THE PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING ACT; PROVIDING RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR TELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION; DEFINING POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW MEXICO LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY; AMENDING, REPEALING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 29-7-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 264, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

"29-7-4. POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD.--The board shall:

A. approve or disapprove the appointment of the director by the secretary;

B. develop and implement a planned program of: (1) basic law enforcement training and in‑service law enforcement training, a portion of which may be conducted on a regional basis; and

(2) basic telecommunicator training and in‑service telecommunicator training, as provided in the Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act, a portion of which may be conducted on a regional basis;

C. prescribe qualifications for instructors and prescribe courses of instruction for:

(1) basic law enforcement training and in‑service law enforcement training; and

(2) basic telecommunicator training and in‑service telecommunicator training, as provided in the Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act;

D. report annually to the governor;

E. in its discretion, accept donations, contributions, grants or gifts from whatever source for the benefit of the academy, which donations, contributions, grants or gifts are appropriated for the use of the academy;

F. adopt, publish and file, in accordance with the provisions of the State Rules Act, all regulations and rules concerning the operation of the academy and the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the Law Enforcement Training Act and the Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act;

G. issue, grant, deny, renew, suspend or revoke a: (1) peace officer's certification for any cause set forth in the provisions of the Law Enforcement Training Act; and

(2) telecommunicator's certification for any just cause set forth in the Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act;

H. administer oaths, subpoena persons and take testimony on any matter within the board's jurisdiction; and

I. perform all other acts appropriate to the development and operation of the academy."

Section 2. Section 29-7-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1969, Chapter 264, Section 7, as amended) is amended to read:

"29-7-5. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR.--The director shall:

A. be the chief executive officer of the academy and employ necessary personnel;

B. issue a certificate of completion to any person who:

(1) graduates from an approved basic law enforcement training program and who satisfies the qualifications for certification as set forth in Section 29‑7‑6 NMSA 1978; or

(2) graduates from an approved basic telecommunicator training program and who satisfies the qualifications for certification as set forth in the Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act;

C. perform all other acts necessary and appropriate to the carrying out of his duties;

D. act as executive secretary to the board;

E. carry out the policy as set by the board; and

F. annually evaluate the courses of instruction being offered by the academy and make necessary modifications and adjustments to the programs."

Section 3. SHORT TITLE.--Sections 3 through 11 of this act may be cited as the "Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act".

Section 4. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act:

A. "board" means the New Mexico law enforcement academy board;

B. "certified" means meeting the training standards established by statute and rule as determined by the board;

C. "director" means the director of the New Mexico law enforcement academy;

D. "dispatch" means the relay of information to public safety personnel by all forms of communication;

E. "safety agency" means a unit of state or local government, a special purpose district or a private business that provides police, firefighting or emergency medical services; and

F. "telecommunicator" means an employee or volunteer of a safety agency who:

(1) receives calls or dispatches the appropriate personnel or equipment in response to calls for police, fire or medical services; and

(2) makes decisions affecting the life, health or welfare of the public or safety employees.

Section 5. QUALIFICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION.--An applicant for certification shall provide evidence satisfactory to the board that he:

A. is a citizen or legal resident of the United States and has reached the age of majority;

B. holds a high school or general equivalency diploma from an accredited institution;

C. has not been convicted of, pled guilty to or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a:

(1) felony charge; or

(2) violation of a federal or state law, a local ordinance relating to aggravated assault or theft or a law involving moral turpitude within the three-year period immediately preceding his application;

D. has not received a dishonorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States;

E. is free from a physical, emotional or mental condition that might adversely affect his performance;

F. is of good moral character;

G. has met all other requirements for certification prescribed by the board; and

H. has received a certificate attesting to his completion of an approved basic telecommunicator training program from the director.

Section 6. BASIC TELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING PROGRAM.--The board shall develop and adopt a basic telecommunicator training program for telecommunicator certification. The program shall be constructed to meet the minimum basic needs of telecommunicators in New Mexico.

Section 7. MINIMUM TRAINING STANDARDS FOR CERTIFICATION.--

A. A telecommunicator shall satisfy the qualifications for certification set forth in the Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act within twelve months after beginning employment and shall provide a certificate of completion to the director.

B. The director shall waive the training requirements set forth in Subsection A of this section for a police radio dispatcher who is certified as a police radio dispatcher and has met all other requirements set forth by the board.

Section 8. CERTIFICATION BY WAIVER.--

A. The director shall waive the basic telecommunicator training program and certify applicants who furnish evidence of satisfactory completion of a basic telecommunicator training program that, in the director's opinion, is substantially equivalent to the board's basic telecommunicator training program.

B. A telecommunicator granted a waiver under this section shall meet all other requirements set out in the Public Safety Telecommunicator Training Act.

Section 9. IN-SERVICE TELECOMMUNICATOR TRAINING.--

A. In-service telecommunicator training consists of at least twenty hours of board-approved advanced training for each certified telecommunicator during each two-year period. The first training course shall commence no later than twelve months after graduation from a board-approved basic telecommunicator training program.

B. A certified telecommunicator shall provide proof of completion of in-service training requirements to the director no later than March 1 of the year subsequent to the year in which the requirements are met. The director shall provide annual notice to all certified telecommunicators regarding in-service training requirements. Failure to complete in-service training requirements may be grounds for suspension of a telecommunicator's certification at the director's discretion. A telecommunicator may be reinstated at the discretion of the director when the telecommunicator presents to the director evidence he has satisfied the in-service training requirements.

Section 10. REPORTS AND ROSTERS.--

A. A safety agency that operates within the state shall submit a quarterly report to the director on the status of each telecommunicator. The reporting forms and submittal dates shall be prescribed by the director.

B. The director shall maintain a roster of all certified telecommunicators.

Section 11. REFUSAL, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION.--

A. The board shall refuse to issue or shall suspend or revoke a telecommunicator's certification, after consultation with his employing safety agency, if the board determines that a person has:

(1) failed to satisfy the qualifications for certification set forth in Section 29-7A-3 NMSA 1978;

(2) committed acts that constitute dishonesty or fraud;

(3) been convicted of, pled guilty to or entered a plea of nolo contendere to a:

(a) felony charge; or

(b) violation of a federal or state law, a local ordinance relating to aggravated assault or theft or a law involving moral turpitude; or

(4) knowingly made a false statement on his application.

B. The board shall develop, adopt and promulgate administrative procedures for suspension or revocation of a telecommunicator's certification that include:

(1) notice and opportunity for the affected telecommunicator to be heard; and

(2) procedures for review of the board's decision.

Section 12. REPEAL.--Sections 29-7A-1 through 29-7A-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979, Chapter 228, Sections 1 through 7, as amended) are repealed.

Section 13. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2003.