THE NEW MEXICO STATE SENATE ON WEDNESDAY TAKES UP "OMAREE'S LAW." THE HOUSE PASSED THE LEGISLATION TUESDAY ON A 52-11 VOTE. THE BILL, NAMED AFTER THE 9-YEAR-OLD ALBUQUERQUE BOY WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY KICKED TO DEATH BY HIS MOTHER IN DECEMBER, WOULD ALLOW THE CHILDREN YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE CUSTODY OF CHILDREN WHEN THERE ARE CERTAIN SIGNS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE, LIKE BURNS OR MULTIPLE BRUISES.
LEGISLATIVE ANALYSTS SAY IF IT BECOMES LAW, C-Y-F-D WOULD NEED FIVE TIMES IT'S CURRENT RESOURCES , INCLUDING 4-THOUSAND ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.
