New Mexico Statutes Chapter 51. Unemployment Compensation § 51-1-37. Protection of rights and benefits

A. Except as provided by Section 51-1-37.1 NMSA 1978, any agreement by an individual to waive, release or commute the individual's rights to benefits or any other rights under the Unemployment Compensation Law shall be void. No agreement by any individual in the employ of any person or concern to pay all or any portion of an employer's contributions or payments in lieu of contributions, required under the Unemployment Compensation Law from such employer, shall be valid. No employer shall directly or indirectly make or require or accept any deduction from the remuneration of individuals in the employer's employ to finance the employer's contributions or payments in lieu of contributions required from the employer or require or accept any waiver of any right hereunder by an individual in the employer's employ. Any employer or officer or agent of an employer who violates any provisions of this subsection shall, for each offense, be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or be imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

B. No individual claiming benefits shall be charged fees of any kind in any proceeding under the Unemployment Compensation Law by the department or its representatives or by any court or any officer thereof. Any individual claiming benefits and any employer in any proceeding before the secretary, the secretary's authorized representative or the board of review may be represented by counsel or any other duly authorized agent, but no such counsel or agent shall either charge or receive for such services more than an amount approved by the secretary. Any person who violates any provision of this subsection shall, for each such offense, be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

C. Except as provided in Subsection D of this section, any assignment, pledge or encumbrance of any right to benefits that are or may become due or payable under the Unemployment Compensation Law shall be void, and such rights to benefits shall be exempt from levy, execution, attachment, garnishment or any other remedy provided for the collection of debt. Benefits received by any individual shall be exempt from a remedy for the collection of debts. Any waiver of any exemption provided for in this subsection is void.

D. The following actions for collection of the indicated obligations may be taken: