Bill Would Establish Guidelines for Paid Duty Leave for injured Safety Officers

A bill up for consideration in the New Mexico House of Representatives would establish guidelines for agencies that want to offer safety officers paid duty injury leave in addition to workers' compensation benefits. House Bill 31, by Rep. Paul A. Pacheco, R-Albuquerque, would establish minimum procedures for agencies to follow when granting paid injury leave, according to a fiscal report prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee. The procedures include complying with existing workers' compensation laws and limiting paid leave to 1,500 hours in a 12-month period or 32 hours in...