N.M. Admin. Code § 7.33.2.13

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 7.33.2.13 - OPERATOR INSTRUCTORS OF BREATH ALCOHOL TESTING EQUIPMENT

A. Designation as operator instructors. Qualified employees of SLD shall be designated as operator instructors, as determined by the director.

B. Initial certification. Persons not employed by SLD shall be certified for up to one year and certification shall expire on December 31.

(1) Applicants shall demonstrate the following qualifications:

(a) current certification as an operator and key operator of the applicable breath testing equipment;

(b) at least 12 semester hours in which the applicant received a grade of C (or satisfactory) or higher in any combination of the following disciplines: chemistry, biology, physics, or mathematics from an accredited university or college; at least four of those 12 semester hours must be in chemistry;

(c) a minimum of 32 hours of instruction in areas relating to blood/breath collection and analysis, to include the following:

(i) the value and purpose of blood and breath alcohol analysis;

(ii) the effects of alcohol on the human body;

(iii) the instruments and procedures for alcohol analysis;

(iv) the interpretation of the results of alcohol analysis;

(v) the New Mexico Implied Consent Act, this rule and any amendments or revisions and court testimony;

(vi) the methods of alcohol analysis;

(vii) the operational principles of the selected breath alcohol instruments;

(viii) practical experience and demonstration of competency in use of blood/breath collection and analyses;

(d) as an alternative to completing the above course of instruction as listed in Subparagraph (c) of Paragraph (1) of Subsection B of this section, an operator instructor may be certified if he/she has earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology or a related science from an accredited university or college and he/she demonstrates equivalent knowledge by successfully completing written and practical examinations formulated or approved by SLD.

(2) Comprehensive practical and written examinations shall be successfully completed by all applicants prior to certification. These examinations shall be administered by SLD.

C. Continuing responsibilities.

(1) Operator instructors not employed by SLD must maintain their certification as operators and key operators.

(2) Requirements for conducting an operator class:

(a) a certified operator instructor should notify SLD in writing at least 10 working days in advance of the date, time and location of all training and examinations to be conducted; in case of emergency or unforeseen circumstances, the date, time, or location of such training or examinations may be changed if SLD is notified at least 24 hours before such a change is made;

(b) all operator training classes conducted by a certified operator instructor shall follow a course of instruction outlined or approved by SLD;

(c) tests must be outlined or approved by SLD for each type of breath alcohol instrument covered in the training;

(d) all students of the operator instructor must take and pass examinations designed or approved by SLD prior to certification;

(e) maintain records of the classes he or she has conducted for at least the previous three years; these records shall include but not be limited to the dates, times, locations and attendees of such classes; SLD may inspect the operator instructor's records concerning the courses taught by the instructor;

(f) allow representatives of SLD to observe any training sessions and examinations;

(g) forward all copies of the graded examinations to SLD within one month of class date with a written statement by the instructor that he or she has conducted the class in compliance with the requirements of this rule;

(h) notify an applicant's supervisor in writing if the candidate did not successfully complete the course; a copy of the letter shall be submitted to SLD.

(3) SLD instructors shall not release copies of any examinations to anyone other than applicants and approved certified instructors in order to protect the integrity of the training process and to insure that applicants for certification are tested on their knowledge of the materials presented. Applicants shall be required to return all copies of the tests they may have received at the end of the testing session.

(4) Operator instructors must conduct at least one operator class per certification year.

D. Recertification: operator instructors are certified for a period of up to one year.

(1) Certifications may be renewed based upon adequate performance of continuing responsibility requirements, a demonstration of competency, or successful completion of a refresher class as specified by SLD.

(2) If the certification of an operator instructor is due to expire before the certification is renewed, the operator instructor may request an extension of certification from SLD. This request must be received by SLD no later than five working days before certification is due to expire. Extension of certification shall be within the discretion of SLD based on good cause having been shown and shall be for a period of not more than 60 days. Certification shall be deemed to have expired at the end of the extension period if the renewal requirements have not been completed satisfactorily.

E. Suspension, revocation or denial.

(1) Certification may be denied for inadequate scores or failure to complete any performance tests or examinations in the manner prescribed by SLD or for any of the reasons set out in Paragraph (2) of Subsection E of 7.33.2.13 NMAC below.

(2) SLD may refuse to certify or may suspend or revoke the certification of any operator instructor for any one or more of the following causes:

(a) fraud or deceit in applying for or obtaining the certification or renewal thereof;

(b) loss of professional certification or affiliation;

(c) any serious or repeated violation of any rule or rule of SLD;

(d) failure to conduct classes in accordance with the rules and standards of SLD;

(e) for good cause, including but not limited to perjury, fraud or incompetence;

(f) as required by New Mexico Parental Responsibility Act (Section 40-5A-1 -et. seq. NMSA 1978);

(g) failure to maintain certification as an operator and key operator;

(h) failure to demonstrate knowledge as established by SLD to be an operator instructor.

(3) SLD shall provide notice of any proposed adverse action to the instructor and the agency chief.

(4) An operator instructor may request a stay of suspension or revocation for good cause. The request must be in writing and in accordance with Subsection of B of 7.33.2.18 NMAC.

(5) If any operator instructor is denied certification or renewal of certification, they may re-apply for certification 90 days after the denial or final decision of the record review. Subsequent denials will require that six months elapse prior to re-application.

(6) If any operator instructor has had their SLD certification revoked, they may not re-apply for a minimum of one year after the denial or final decision of the record review.

N.M. Admin. Code § 7.33.2.13

7.33.2.13 NMAC - Rp, 7.33.2.15 NMAC and 7.33.2.16 NMAC, 04-30-2010