Opinion ID: 1286553
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: whether the corrections industries act conflicts with the new mexico inmate-release program

Text: Sierra Blanca contends that as a convicted felon, Benavidez had a statutory obligation to provide labor for the State's benefit under Section 33-8-4, a provision of the Corrections Industries Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 33-8-1 to -15 (Repl.Pamp.1990 & Cum.Supp.1995). Therefore, he could not have voluntarily formed a contract of hire to work under Section 33-2-43. Sierra Blanca, in essence, reads two statutory schemes as being in conflict. We conclude they are not in conflict. When interpreting a statute, its provisions must be read together with other statutes relating to the same subject to ascertain legislative intent. Quintana v. New Mexico Dep't of Corrections, 100 N.M. 224, 225, 668 P.2d 1101, 1102 (1983), rev'd on other grounds, Devine v. New Mexico Dep't of Corrections, 866 F.2d 339 (10th Cir.1989). We presume that the Legislature is well informed regarding existing statutory and common law and does not intend to enact a nullity. We also presume that the Legislature intends to change existing law when it enacts a new statute. State ex rel. Bird v. Apodaca, 91 N.M. 279, 284, 573 P.2d 213, 218 (1977). Therefore, when several statutes relate to the same subject matter, we will, if possible, construe them so as to give effect to every relevant provision. Section 33-8-4 of the Corrections Industries Act provides in pertinent part: All persons convicted of crime and confined in a facility ... shall perform labor under such rules and regulations as have been or may hereafter be prescribed by the department. Section 33-8-4 serves to enhance the rehabilitation, education and vocational skills of inmates through productive involvement in enterprises ... to minimize inmate idleness. Section 33-8-3. Similarly, Section 33-2-43 provides an avenue for the State to foster the rehabilitative aspect of incarceration by allowing eligible inmates the opportunity to prepare themselves to become productive members of society upon their release from confinement. Pursuant to the statutory provisions governing the inmate-release program, however, prisoners must accept their responsibility as participants voluntarily; accordingly, there is no language in the statutory scheme that mandates participation. In fact, the Legislature explicitly provided that only certain eligible inmates are allowed to participate in the program. See § 33-2-44 (trusty or minimum-custody inmate with physical and mental ability to fully perform who is not afflicted with any serious emotional or personality defect, who has not been convicted of a crime involving assaultive sexual conduct nor violence to a child, nor has been linked with organized criminal activity and would not likely evoke an adverse public reaction by his presence in the community). We conclude the two statutory schemes do not conflict. We conclude that prisoners may legally enter into voluntary contracts of hire under the inmate-release program.