March 06--SANTA FE -- Gov. Susana Martinez signed eight bills into law Wednesday, including legislation that will increase survivor benefits for family members of New Mexico firefighters killed in the line of duty.
Under the terms of the firefighter bill, the spouse or children of any firefighter killed on the job could be in line to receive a total of $250,000, the amount prescribed for law enforcement officers. Currently, firefighter survivor benefits are set at $50,000.
The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Emily Kane, D-Albuquerque, will take effect July 1.
The first-term Republican governor also signed a bill that will set up the framework for a program to provide free breakfast for students in New Mexico's poorest middle and high schools.
Funding for the program -- which already exists in qualifying elementary schools -- was not allocated this year, and backers of the bill say they will try next year to secure state money for the program.
Other bills signed Wednesday include legislation adding new local government entities to the list of those eligible to get loans from the New Mexico Finance Authority and a technical fix to existing state child abuse laws.
With the flurry of bill action, Martinez has now signed 14 of the 91 bills approved by lawmakers during this year's 30-day legislative session. She has not vetoed any bills.
The governor has until next Wednesday to act on legislation passed during the final days of this year's session.
Copyright 2014 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
