As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sanchez played a critical role in drafting and fine-tuning the legislative package.

"Sen. Sanchez made sure the legislation would be tough and effective, and meet the constitutional standards," said Senate President Pro-tem Richard Romero, D-Dist. 12 Bernalillo County. "His work was absolutely crucial throughout the legislative process."

Sanchez praised his legislative colleagues and Gov. Bill Richardson for their efforts.

"The vote was unanimous and bipartisan," Sanchez said. "It shows that we can put aside our political differences and work together when the issues are so critical to the safety of our people. I'm proud to have worked so closely with both parties' members to pass this legislation."

The legislation, according to Sanchez, will give law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges the tools they need to evaluate convicted sex offenders for imprisonment and treatment alternatives.

"It will also help authorities evaluate the risk of sex offenders repeating the crime, and that's the biggest problem with this type of criminal, the recidivism rate. We'll be better able to evaluate what will work best to reduce the risk of repeat offenders," he said.

Richardson said he would sign the Senate-passed measure and that it would mean New Mexico "will never again be called a haven for sexual predators."

Richardson has pushed for a crackdown on sex offenders since 16-year-old Marissa Mathy-Zvaifler of Santa Fe was killed in July at the Sunshine Theater in Albuquerque. A janitor who had been convicted of raping a 4-year-old and had been given probation rather than being sent to prison has been charged in the case.

Richardson said the tougher sex offender law would be known as Marissa's Law.

The Senate rejected a substitute bill by Sen. Joe Carraro, R-Dist. 23 Albuquerque, that, among other things, would have toughened New Mexico's Megan's Law, which requires convicted sex offenders to register with law-enforcement authorities.

Carraro said convicted sex offenders should have to register within 24 hours of coming to New Mexico instead of within 10 days as required by present law.

"New Mexico is the sex-offender vacation state,' Carraro said. "A violent sex offender can come to New Mexico and spend 10 days here without registering."

Democrats said the sex offender management board would make recommendations about how to best improve New Mexico's Megan's Law.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Richard Martinez, D-Dist. 5 Española, expressed concern about the minimum mandatory jail sentences called for in the sex offender legislation, which he said would "take the discretion away from a judge."

However, Martinez voted to support the bill, which was approved by the Senate committee in an 8-0 vote.

Sen. Ramsay Gorhan, R-Dist. 10 Albuquerque, and other Republicans complained Thursday that they have sought tougher sex crimes measures for years, only to be thwarted by Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

"These bills have been voted against for years and years and years," said Gorhan, who chairs the state Republican Party.

Gorhan said the focus on sex-offender legislation by Richardson and Democratic legislators was designed to shift attention away from a lack of agreement on tax issues during the special session.

"This is a cover-up for a failed tax agreement between the governor and his own party," Gorhan said during the Senate debate. "This could have been done years ago."

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