As used in the Arson Reporting Immunity Act:

A. "authorized agencies" means the:

(1) state fire marshal or his designate when authorized or charged with the investigation of the fire or explosion at the place where the fire or explosion actually took place;

(2) district attorney responsible for prosecution in the county where the fire occurred;

(3) attorney general when involved in the investigation or responsible for the prosecution of an alleged arson or prosecution of an arson;

(4) county and municipal fire departments authorized or charged with the investigation of fires at the place where the fire actually occurred;

(5) governor's organized crime prevention commission;

(6) county sheriffs' departments and municipal police departments authorized or charged with the investigation of fires at the place where the fire actually occurred; and

(7) New Mexico state police;

B. "authorized agencies" for the purposes of Subsection A of Section 41-8-3 NMSA 1978 also means:

(1) the federal bureau of investigation;

(2) the United States attorney's office when authorized or charged with investigation or prosecution of the fire in question; and

(3) the United States treasury department bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms;

C. "relevant" means information having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the investigation or determination of the issue more probable than it would be without the evidence;

D. "deemed important" means material deemed important if, within the sole discretion of the authorized agency, such material is requested by that authorized agency;

E. "action" as used in this statute, includes nonaction or the failure to take action;

F. "immune" means that neither a civil action nor a criminal prosecution may arise from any action taken pursuant to Section 41-8-3 or 41-8-4 NMSA 1978 where actual malice on the part of the insurance company or authorized agency against the insured is not present; and

G. "insurance company" includes the New Mexico FAIR plan [59A-29-2 to 59A-29-9 NMSA 1978].

History: Laws 1979, ch. 117, § 2; 1987, ch. 276, § 1.

Effective dates. — Laws 1987, ch. 276 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 19, 1987, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.