§ 9-26-16 — Background checks; authorization; procedures;

rulemaking; confidentiality; penalties. A. The department shall require fingerprint-based records on: (1) department employees who have or will have access to federal tax information; and (2) finalists for employment by the department who have or may have access to federal tax information. B. The department shall request the fingerprint-based criminal history record for each subject required pursuant to Subsection A from: (1) the department of public safety, which shall: (a) conduct a criminal history background check to determine the existence and content of a record of convictions and arrests of the subject in this state, in accordance with rules of the department of public safety; (b) provide the fingerprint-based record to the federal bureau of investigation to obtain a national criminal history background check to determine the existence and content of a record of convictions and arrests of the subject in other law enforcement jurisdictions, in accordance with regulations of the federal bureau of investigation; and (c) compile and provide the information determined and obtained pursuant to this subsection to the department; and (2) the law enforcement agency of each county and municipality in which the subject lived, worked or attended any high school or post-secondary educational institution, which shall conduct a criminal history background check to determine the existence and content of a record of convictions and arrests of the subject in the law enforcement agency's respective jurisdiction within the last five years and provide that information to the department. C. Subject to any restrictions imposed by federal law, the department shall have access to the information furnished by the federal bureau of investigation, the department of public safety and any other law enforcement agency or organization pursuant to Subsection B of this section. D. A finalist for employment by the department shall not be hired for a position that provides access to federal tax information before the completion of the criminal history background checks required by this section. E. Before entering into a contract with the department or with a contractor of the department, a prospective contractor or subcontractor who may have access to federal tax information pursuant to specific duties that would be assigned to that person by the department shall arrange to have criminal history background checks to be conducted by the department of public safety and the necessary law enforcement agencies as required pursuant to Subsection B of this section for department employees and finalists for employment by the department. That person shall bear the costs associated with obtaining the criminal history background checks. F. The department shall use the information obtained from a criminal history background check pursuant to this section only to investigate and determine whether a department employee or finalist for employment by the department or prospective contractor or prospective subcontractor with the department has been convicted of a crime that has a direct impact on the ability of that person to meet federal requirements or to perform the specific duties assigned to that person. The provisions of the Criminal Offender Employment Act [Chapter 28, Article 2 NMSA 1978] shall govern consideration of criminal history records of employees and finalists for employment obtained pursuant to this section. The secretary may deny or terminate employment of a person who has been convicted of a felony or other crime that directly reflects on the person's ability to access federal tax information. G. The department shall conduct a check for eligibility to legally work in the United States on each department employee and each finalist for employment by the department who has or may have access to federal tax information. The department shall complete a check every five years for continued eligibility to legally work in the United States. H. The information obtained from criminal history background checks or legal residency background checks pursuant to this section is confidential and shall not be released or disclosed by the department except pursuant to a court order or with written consent of the person who is the subject of the records. A person who releases or discloses information obtained pursuant to a criminal history background check or legal residency background check in violation of the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.

Legislative History

Laws 2022, ch. 13, § 2.