HM 24 — CORRECTIONS & CYFD STAFFING LEVELS

HOUSE MEMORIAL 24 57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEWMEXICO - FIRST SESSION 2025 INTRODUCED BY Eleanor Chávez 6 8 10 A MEMORIAL REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SAFE STAFFING LEVELS AT THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT AND THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT.

167 WHEREAS, the corrections department and the children, e t 17 youth and families department provide critical public safety w l n d 18 services in this state;

and = = 19 a l WHEREAS, the corrections department and the children, i a e r 20 youth and families department must have adequate staffing a t m m 21 levels to provide those critical services;

and d r e 22 WHEREAS, over the last decade, both the corrections c e s k 23 department and the children, youth and families department have e a n b 24 been significantly understaffed;

and u [ WHEREAS, some correctional facilities have official .230543.2 vacancy rates for frontline correctional officer positions in excess of thirty percent, which has led to more dangerous staffing situations in correctional facilities;

and WHEREAS, it is difficult to fully evaluate the understaffing situations at the corrections department and HM 24 Page 1 the children, youth and families department because the departments have eliminated many unfilled positions;

and WHEREAS, there has been a lack of opportunity for frontline workers to provide input and perspective to shape e t 17 recruiting and retention policies at the corrections department w l n d 18 or the children, youth and families department;

and = = 19 a l WHEREAS, ensuring the safety of the public is the most i a e r 20 essential role of state government;

a t m m 21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF d r e 22 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative c e s k 23 finance committee be requested to create a task force to e a n b 24 generate a report that:

u [ A.

recommends safe and adequate staffing levels for .230543.2 - 2 - all public safety positions at the corrections department and the children, youth and families department;

HM 24 Page 2 D.

and e t 17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to w l n d 18 consist of the following members:

= = 19 a l A.

a member from the state personnel office, i a e r 20 appointed by the director of the state personnel office, with a t m m 21 direct knowledge of the corrections department and the d r e 22 children, youth and families department job classifications, c e s k 23 pay bands and hiring practices;

e a n b 24 B.

a member from the corrections department u [ appointed by the secretary of corrections;

.230543.2 - 3 - C.

three members employed by the children, youth and families department, including at least one member who works in child protective services and at least one member who is a correctional officer in a juvenile detention facility, appointed by the executive director of the union HM 24 Page 3 representing the largest number of employees at the corrections department and the children, youth and families department;

e t 17 G.

one member, appointed by the minority leader of w l n d 18 the house of representatives, who is a state representative;

= = 19 a l H.

two members, appointed by the majority leader of i a e r 20 the senate, who are state senators;

and a t m m 21 I.

one member, appointed by the minority leader of d r e 22 the senate, who is a state senator;

and c e s k 23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be requested to e a n b 24 meet monthly from May 2025 through November 2025 to develop and u [ finalize the report by December,December 11, 2025;

and .230543.2 - 4 - BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report developed pursuant to this memorial be provided to the corrections department, the children, youth and families department, the office of the governor and the legislature;

and HM 24 Page 4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the corrections department, the children, youth and families department, the office of the governor and each member of the legislature.

-HM 524 -Page 145 167 e9 t25 17 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .230543.2