April
6, 2001
SENATE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 90
The Honorable Richard Romero and
Members of the Senate
Executive-Legislative Building
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87503
Honorable President and Members of the Senate:
I have this day VETOED and am returning SENATE FLOOR
SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 744, as amended, enacted by the Forty-Fifth
Legislature, First Session, 2001.
This bill amends the delinquency article of the
Children’s Code to permit judges to send juveniles out of state for
commitment. While the bill provides
that the out of state provider must meet certain standards and the out of state
commitment in only certain situations the bill is still problematic. First, it seems counter intuitive to send
our children out of state for commitment where they would be separated from
their families. Second, CYFD would
appear to be in the best position of determining the best placement for these
children rather than being forced to send them out of state by a judges order. Finally, there is not an appropriation to go
along with this bill. Thus, CYFD would
be forced to cover the costs of an out of state commitment out of their current
budget.
Sincerely,
Gary E. Johnson
Governor
RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR:
Time: _____________________
By:_____________________________
Secretary of State
Date ______________________
Time:______________________
Date_______________________ By:_____________________________
Chief Clerk of the Senate
Sem90sb744v