A. As used in this section:
(1) "gender-neutral" means language that does not expressly or implicitly refer to one gender to the real or apparent exclusion of the other and expressly or implicitly refers to both genders without distinguishing between them; and
(2) "gender-specific" means language that expressly or implicitly refers to one gender to the real or apparent exclusion of the other or expressly or implicitly refers to both genders and distinguishes between them.
B. Except as limited in Subsection C of this section, the legislative council service shall use gender-neutral language in drafting bills to enact, amend or revise laws and in drafting memorials, resolutions and other legislative documents; provided that gender-neutral language shall not be used if language is intended or required to be gender-specific or the intended meaning of language would otherwise be altered.
C. Whenever current laws and other published legislative documents are the subject of a legislative request to the legislative council service for amendment or revision, the legislative council service as part of its work shall replace gender-specific language with gender-neutral language where appropriate and reasonable.
History: Laws 2013, ch. 141, § 1.
ANNOTATIONSEffective dates. — Laws 2013, ch. 141 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 14, 2013, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.