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Committee advances search-and-rescue bill to require dispatch notification to state police
Summary
Senate Bill 353 would require local dispatchers who receive reports of people lost or injured in wilderness or search-and-rescue situations to notify the New Mexico State Police so state-coordinated volunteer SAR teams can be activated simultaneously with local responders; the committee gave the bill a do-pass as amended.
The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee approved Senate Bill 353, a measure intended to speed activation and coordination of volunteer search-and-rescue (SAR) teams by requiring local dispatch centers to notify the New Mexico State Police when they receive calls that fall into SAR circumstances.
Sponsor Sen. Jeff Steinborn described the bill as a low-cost change that "requires local dispatchers who get a call from someone in an emergency situation... to do one extra step, which is to call the state police," so trained volunteer SAR teams can be tasked immediately in addition to local responders. State Police SAR coordinator Bob Rogers told the committee the change "is a low cost solution to saving lives in the state of New Mexico."
Volunteers and SAR leaders testified in strong support and gave examples of delayed notifications that, they said, prolonged searches and in some cases caused preventable harm. Robert Garcia, president of the New Mexico Search and Rescue Council, described instances of delayed notification and said statewide teams sometimes learn of missions days later. Local volunteers, incident commanders and emergency managers said activating SAR resources at the same time as local paid responders improves coordination and safety.
Committee action: Sponsor Steinborn offered a technical amendment (language change from "service" to "safety" in one line to match field terminology) that committee members adopted. Representative Zamora moved a do-pass recommendation; the motion carried and the committee forwarded the bill as amended.
Ending: Supporters said the bill improves rescue coordination without adding funding requirements; opponents did not appear in committee testimony. The committee approved the bill as amended and sent it forward.
