Committee advances bill to modernize parole board procedures and victim notifications

The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee voted to recommend Senate Bill 17, a package of changes to New Mexico's parole process intended to update the parole board’s decision guidance, clarify removal procedures for board members, permit per diem for certain closed hearings, and instruct scheduling practices that avoid victims’ anniversaries and birthdays.

Sponsor Senator Jaramillo told the committee the bill follows modern, evidence‑based practices and addresses “outdated statutes” that have guided the New Mexico Adult Parole Board since 1980. "This bill does 4 major things," Jaramillo said: introduce evidence‑based practices into discretionary parole; modernize member removal procedures with guardrails; expressly authorize per diem reimbursement for closed parole hearings; and require scheduling consideration for victims’ birthdays and death anniversaries.

Representative Nicole Chavez, the House cosponsor and a family member of a homicide victim, described protections for victims as a central feature: “It protects the victim's rights to provide and participate in a statement to the board in a parole hearing… and ensures that hearings scheduling takes place considering days that are especially hard for victims,” she said.

Denali Wilson, staff attorney at ACLU New Mexico, and Roberta Cohen, director of the New Mexico Adult Parole Board, testified in support. Wilson said the bill updates statutory guidance that hasn’t been revised since 1980 and clarifies compensation issues for the board, which is comprised of 15 non‑salaried members reimbursed under the Per Diem Act. Cohen said the board has had high vacancy rates and supported clearer statutory language on victim notification and member duties.

Committee members questioned how the bill would affect parole eligibility and the board’s use of risk assessments. Sponsors emphasized that SB17 does not expand parole eligibility—life sentences with a 30‑year minimum remain unchanged—but requires the board to weigh rehabilitative programming and risk/readiness evidence when deciding after the statutory eligibility period. Staff and witnesses described the Department of Corrections’ Compass risk assessment as a primary source of information the board reviews.

Senator Nava offered a textual clarification (an amendment to specify that per diem may include “any other reimbursable activity under the [Per Diem] Act”) intended to capture time board members spend preparing for hearings, reviewing files and speaking with victims. Committee debate included concerns about potential for fraud, waste or abuse and about whether the existing per diem definitions are sufficient. Senator Scott moved to table that amendment; the committee voted to table the amendment on a roll call recorded in the transcript (motion to table passed, recorded count 6–2). Later in the hearing sponsors said they would work with stakeholders and the Administrative Office of the Courts on removal‑jurisdiction language before judiciary.

Public testimony included victims and advocates who urged the committee to pass the bill and cited cases where scheduling and notification had failed to consider victims’ anniversaries. The New Mexico Business Coalition also testified in support, citing public safety and transparency benefits.

The committee adopted a do‑pass recommendation on SB17 and will send it to the next stage of consideration.