What does SB 68 do?
It allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking to participate in the court process related to the abuse without losing their jobs. Specifically, “An employer shall grant an employee domestic abuse leave without interfering with, restraining or denying exercise of rights under the … Act or attempting to do so. Retaliation against an employee for using domestic abuse leave is prohibited.” The law protects survivors of domestic abuse, which includes domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, the same individuals who are covered by the Family Violence Protection Act, NMSA 1978 § 40-13-2. Does New Mexico already have judicial leave laws? Yes. New Mexico already requires that employers allow employees to serve as jurors. NMSA 1978 § 38-5-18. This new law basically gives victims the same rights as jurors to participate in the judicial process. Both jurors and survivors participate in the court process for the benefit of society as a whole, and both have a right to ke
