Martinez aims to protect families in NM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Governor Susana Martinez and legislators want to make child abusers face tough punishments.

So they introduced a group of bills yesterday that would crack down on a number of crimes including child abuse that does not result in death.

That crime carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. The governor says that's not enough.

“To say that child abuse is only punishable by three years? That's unacceptable,” Martinez said.

The new bill would make this a second degree felony and could send abusers to prison for up to nine years.

It would also make Brianna’s Law stronger that law allows people who abuse and kill children under 12 to be locked up for life.

Legislators want to expand that law to include children under the age of 18.