How did the New Mexico Legislative Session affect women and girls?
House Memorials the Southwest Women’s Law Center Supported
by Elena Rubinfeld, Staff Attorney
During the 2018 legislative session, the Southwest Women’s Law Center supported the
passage of two House Memorials focused on advancing social justice and economic security
for women and their families in New Mexico.
House Memorial 82
House Memorial 82 authorizes the formation of a pro bono working work to establish a plan,
collect data and analyze information for making recommendation on what the New Mexico
legislature can do to encourage more licensed attorneys in New Mexico to increase pro bono
services for low-income families. This memorial was sponsored by Representatives Sheryl
Williams Stapleton, Debbie Armstrong, Christine Trujillo, Patricia Roybal Caballero and Linda
Trujillo.
Less than twenty percent of the legal needs of low-income New Mexicans are currently being
met through social justice organizations that provide legal services. A lack of sufficient funding
combined with personnel shortages have prevented many legal service organizations from
meeting the demand for legal services for low-income families. These families primarily
struggle to access affordable housing and healthcare. Many times, low income women need
help escaping domestic violence and ensuring they receive fair pay in the workplace.
The working group, will be comprised of attorneys from private, governmental and nonprofit
practices. Executive Director of the Southwest Women’s Law Center Pamelya Herndon will
chair this working group and oversee this important research.
House Memorial 4
House Memorial 4, calls for the formation of a parental paid-leave working group to make
findings and develop recommendations for the establishment of a publicly managed parenting
worker’s leave fund that can be accessed by both private and public employees and employers.
This working group will enable New Mexico to join many other states in exploring how to
implement a state-wide paid leave program. The memorial was sponsored by Representative
Daymon Ely.