Attorney General Statement on Dangerous Amendment to Child Exploitation Legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2016

Contact: James Hallinan (505) 660-2216

Santa Fe – Tonight, Attorney General Hector Balderas released the following statement in response to the so called “sexting amendment” that was added to HB 65 in Senate Finance tonight:

“I started this session supporting a measure that provided the maximum protections for all New Mexico children against sexual predators, but I cannot support an amendment that weakens protections for teenagers from predatory activity, creates a dangerous new child exploitation loophole, and places New Mexico’s federal Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force funding in jeopardy. Losing this funding would be a crippling blow to our families and rural law enforcement, and would place New Mexico children at further risk of victimization by child predators.”

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