Governor lauds new domestic violence laws

CHANCES ARE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE STATE'S DOMES...  More »

CHANCES ARE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE STATE'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CZAR AND GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON ARE TRYING TO CLOSE THE GAPS IN STATE LAW-- SO OFFENDERS DON'T GET OFF THE HOOK, AND VICTIMS AREN'T AFRAID TO LOOK FOR HELP. KAYLA ANDERSON IS LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE. KAYLA? THE ALBUQUERQUE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER HELPS VICTIMS OF ABUSE ADDRESS AND OVERCOME THEIR EXPERIENCE. THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE RESOURCES THERE, COMBINED WITH THREE NEW STATE LAWS, ARE A BIG STEP IN BREAKING THE CYCLE OF ABUSE. IN THE TWO YEARS THE ALBUQUERQUE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER HAS BEEN OPEN... MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND VICTIMS HAVE GONE THERE FOR HELP. GOVERNOR RICHARDSON TOURED THE CENTER TODAY... WHICH SERVES AS A ONE STOP SHOP FOR HELP AND SUPPORT. THE GOVERNOR HOPES THREE NEW LAWS WILL ALSO HELP. SENATE BILL 4 NOW MAKES IT A CRIME TO DEPRIVE OR DAMAGE THE PROPERTY OF SOMEONE YOU LIVE WITH. SENATE BILL 68 GRANTS NEW EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS TO VICTIMS OF ABUSE... ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK FOR LEGAL MATTERS, WITHOUT RISKING THEIR JOB. AND FINALLY SENATE BILL 166 AMENDS THE STATE'S STALKING LAWS... TO INCLUDE CYBER STALKING AND OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL METHODS. WHILE THE MISSION TO END ABUSE IN NEW MEXICO CONTINUES... THE GOVERNOR SAYS WE'RE NOW ONE STEP CLOSER. ALL THREE OF THOSE NEW LAWS WILL BE EFFECT JULY 1ST. REPORTING LIVE DOWNTOWN, KAYLA ANDERSON, EYEWITNESS NEWS 4  « Less