Legislation supported by Gov. Susana Martinez and Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry would toughen New Mexico's laws against human trafficking.
The legislation to be introduced by Reps. Monica Youngblood and Tim Lewis this week would require people convicted of human trafficking to register as sex offenders when trafficking cases involve sexual exploitation.
Other provisions would make penalties for human trafficking more severe and would eliminate what's described as a loophole by no longer requiring a person to actually take custody of an individual.
Martinez says the legislation would help protect vulnerable people from what she calls a form of modern-day slavery.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.