Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage

STATE News:

• Bi-partisan Vote Passes Committee – Bill Heads To House Floor

SANTA FE – Legislation that would crack down on sexual predators attempting to secretly view or record a person’s intimate areas has passed the House Safety And Civil Affairs Committee with a bi-partisan vote.

The legislation sponsored by Rep. Sharon Clahchischilliage, R-San Juan County, is headed to the House floor for a vote. Current law fails to bring justice to predators who, despite their best effort to view or record the victim, fail to do so.

“We have the right to our privacy and when it is violated, there must be consequences,” Clahchischilliage said. “This legislation will help protect New Mexico’s families from predators. I look forward to voting for this on the House floor.”

Under the current law, voyeurism is defined as viewing, photographing, videotaping, filming, webcasting or recording the intimate areas of another person without their knowledge. It is a fourth-degree felony when the victim is a minor and a misdemeanor when the victim is over 18. Attempting to commit voyeurism, however, is only a misdemeanor when the victim is a minor, and there is no punishment when the victim is over 18.

The proposed legislation would change the definition of voyeurism to include attempting to secretly view or record a person’s intimate parts.
                                                 
“This issue is important to the safety and privacy of all of us,” she said. “It’s a minor change that will have a large impact.”