Rep. Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque
A bill that would increase jail time for and strip pensions from those convicted of public corruption crimes unanimously passed the House today.
House Bill 378, sponsored by Rep. Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Today’s vote in favor of the bill was 68-0. The legislation also had no opposition from the House Judiciary Committee earlier in the session.
“The message is clear,” Gentry said in a news release. “Corruption will not be tolerated, and those who take advantage of their position will be punished.”
In addition to increasing jail sentences for and stripping pensions from those convicted of corruption-related crimes, the bill specifies which acts qualify as public corruption offenses and prevents those convicted of such offenses from ever serving as lobbyists or getting state contracts.