Fentanyl child exposure bill in New Mexico [Video]

Only 10 days are left in this year’s legislative session and some lawmakers at the Roundhouse are focusing on passing a bill targeting fentanyl use around kids. House Bill 106 aims to create penalties for parents who expose their children to fentanyl. “We have a fentanyl epidemic. It is horrific what is going on in the state,” Republican New Mexico State Rep. Stefani Lord said. That’s why Lord and Republican New Mexico state Sen. Crystal Diamond have introduced the bill to change state law. “It’s a step towards acknowledging that exposure to fentanyl is grounds for child abuse. As the laws are today, it’s not illegal for parents to use and abuse fentanyl around their children,” Diamond said. According to Diamond and Lord, current laws for child abuse address methamphetamine and other drug use, but not fentanyl. In New Mexico, child abuse is a third-degree felony the first time it …