Days remaining in session: 5

Newborn screening: The House on Friday unanimously passed a bill that would add five new tests to the current newborn screening requirements for infants in New Mexico in HB 201, sponsored by Rep. Rhonda King, D-Stanley. The additional screening would test for congenital muscular disorders, rare genetic neurological disorders, and inherited metabolic disorders.

King said the bill would save lives, "If these disorders are identified early, many children have the opportunity for early treatment techniques that minimize or potentially eradicate the degenerative conditions of these disorders. Additionally, the minimal cost of testing outweighs the costly impact of these diseases to families, insurance companies, and government later on down the road."

The bill would add five lysosomol storage diseases to the newborn screening panel: Pompe disease or acid maltase deficiency; Krabbe disease or globoid cell leukodystrophy; Gaucher's disease; Niemann-Pick disease; and Fabry disease.

Save those ballots: Secretary of State Mary Herrera is backing a bill aimed at reducing the cost of running elections in New Mexico, which cleared the House on Thursday.

House Bill 238 would require that all early and absentee ballots are saved and used as "back-up" ballots if necessary. The bill received unanimous support from the committee. If passed, this legislation would change the current policy of destroying excess early and absentee ballots on the Monday prior to an election, and allow these ballots to be used on Election Day. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, would mean the Secretary of State's Office could order fewer ballots for Election Day.

The vote was 49-21. It now goes to the Senate.

House rejects treatment instead of incarceration: Following a two-hour debate Friday, the House voted 37-33 to reject a bill that would have allowed people convicted of drug possession to have the option of going to a treatment program instead of jail.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, D-Albuquerque, said the state could have saved $22 million in annual incarceration costs by approving HB 178.

Maestas argued the bill would have given judges the ability to determine during a hearing whether a drug-abuse treatment program would be a better option for the defendant. The offender would have to pay for the treatment, and the state could pursue the charges if the treatment wasn't completed.

Those charged with drug trafficking wouldn't be eligible for the treatment option, Maestas said.

Rep. Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell, said that nobody is in prison for drug possession alone, so there is no need to pass the bill. He referred to the bill as a "catch and release" program.

Skipping the line at the MVD: A bill that would allow for driver's licenses to be renewed over the phone or by electronic means was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 58-0. Rep. Nate Cote sponsored HB 25, which also addresses the expiration of driver's licenses.

HB 25 gives the MVD authority to develop a process to renew driver's licenses through telephone or electronic means. The MVD already has the authority to renew driver's licenses through the mail.

The bill would change the vision test requirement for driver's license renewals being made through the mail, telephone or electronically. Vision tests and new photos would be required every 16 years.

Fees would be issued for driver's licenses issued for shorter or longer periods than the standard four- or eight-year time periods for people under 21 years old and those approaching age 75.

The Senate passed a similar bill earlier this week. Both chambers must pass one of the bills before it would become law.

Looking ahead: The state Senate will honor patient advocates today on Medical Marijuana Day, which coincides with National Medical Marijuana Week, Feb. 13-21. Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque, one of the sponsors of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, has introduced a memorial to honor patient advocates, including Erin Armstrong and Lynn Pierson. Speakers including patients, medical marijuana producers and advocates will speak in the Rotunda beginning at 1 p.m.

• The AFL-CIO is sponsoring a "Working Families Rally" on the west side of the Capitol 1 p.m. Sunday. The union is protesting proposed job cuts for state workers.

• People in the Capitol can enjoy exhibits and performances celebrating New Mexico's cultural diversity during "Culture Day" at the state Capitol Rotunda on Monday. There will be exhibits focusing on the state-run museums and monuments, as well as arts, historic preservation, archaeology and library programs throughout the day. Performances beginning at noon will showcase Mariachi Conquistador from DeVargas Middle School; Young Violin Players from Acequia Madre Elementary School; and music by David and Max Manzanares. There also will be reception from 4-5 p.m. with free food and featuring music by Albuquerque-based vocalist Hillary Smith and her band, Soul Kitchen.

• At a Monday press conference at the New Mexico Attorney General's Office, law enforcement leaders will ask legislators to maintain funding for "high-quality early childhood programs in New Mexico in order to reduce later prison costs." Attorney General Gary King, Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano, state police Chief Faron Segotta and others plan to release a research brief showing that quality early education and care for children significantly reduces the likelihood that at-risk kids will commit crimes later in life.

Quotes of the Day:

"This a crazy bill. Part of a national campaign by the NRA to broaden the use of concealed weapons."

— Sen. Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, on the New Mexico Independent's live blog Friday, talking about SB 40, which would allow people with concealed-carry licenses to take guns into restaurants that have beer and wine licenses.

"I believe that if more people carry guns, we will have less crime."

— Sen. David Ulibarri, D-Grants, on the Senate floor during the debate of the gun bill.

SB 40 passed the Senate 27-15 on Friday.




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