Chile moves to amend municipal security law with short‑term bill

The Chilean government will introduce a short‑term bill on Monday to modify the recently enacted Municipal Security Law. Subsecretary of Crime Prevention Gonzalo Guerrero announced that the proposal will exempt salaries and allowances for municipal security personnel from the 42 % cap on personnel spending, allowing municipalities to hire the staff needed for new security duties. The bill also creates a framework for municipalities to obtain class‑F driver licences for patrol vehicles through agreements with traffic authorities.

The initiative was presented after a meeting with the Chilean Association of Municipalities (ACHM), the Association of Rural Municipalities (AMUR), the Association of Municipalities of Chile (AMUCH) and several mayors. Local officials, such as Lo Prado mayor Maximiliano Ríos and Quilaco mayor Pablo Urrutia, welcomed the measure, saying it addresses budget constraints and will help ensure the law’s effective implementation across Chilean communes.