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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Wright DATE TYPED: 02/13/99 HB 148/aHJC
SHORT TITLE: Dona Ana Magistrate Judges SB
ANALYST: O'Connell


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
$ 150.0 Recurring GF



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Relates to SB106



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC files

Administrative Office of the District Attorneys analysis



SUMMARY



Synopsis of House Judiciary Committee Amendment



The amendment provides that four judges be located in Las Cruces and ride circuit to Hatch on a regular basis. The fifth judge will operate as a single court in Anthony.



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 148 would create two additional magistrate judgeships in the Dona Ana district.



Significant Issues



The bill provides that three judges be located in Las Cruces and shall ride circuit to Hatch on a regular basis. The other two judges will operate as a single court in Anthony.





FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



House Bill 148 appropriates $150.0 in recurring general fund to the Dona Ana magistrate district.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



The new judges would be appointed by the governor effective July 1, 1999 and would be succeeded by magistrates elected in the general election of 2000.



RELATIONSHIP



House Bill 148 relates to Senate Bill 106.



BOC/prr:njw