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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act containing an appropriation for $1.900.0 from the TANF block grant for domestic violence services.

Duplicates SB 45

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Commission on the Status of Women

Human Services Department

Child Youth and Families Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 92 makes an appropriation to the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) of $3.9 million for domestic violence shelters and programs. The funding sources are $2 million from the state general fund and $1.9 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant administered by the Human Services Department (HSD).

The bill provides for $2 million from the general fund to contract with domestic violence programs and shelters statewide to provide services to victims of domestic violence and their families. It also allocates $1.9 million from the TANF block to contract with domestic violence programs and shelters statewide to provide services to victims of domestic violence and there families who are enrolled in the TANF program.

Significant Issues

HSD has adopted domestic violence option regulations that allow time limit waivers to the work requirements for persons affected by domestic violence. Providing domestic violence services to TANF eligible clients would support the state's family violence option waiver and assist these clients in moving more effectively toward self-sufficiency.

The Commission on the Status of Women reports that 19,500 NM wives are severely assaulted by their husbands or partners each year. It is estimated that alcohol is involved in 85% of domestic violence incidents in NM.

According to CYFD the TANF funding currently appropriated to CYFD is utilized for Child Care Services, Protective Services and Juvenile Justice Services. This bill would mandate CYFD to administer an additional new program, Domestic Violence Services. Administration of this program could impact the Protective Services and Prevention & Intervention divisions. Currently the Protective Services division operates the Statewide Central Intake System ( 1-800 797-3260) where domestic violence referrals where the safety of children is an issue is currently provided.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Currently both Protective Services and Prevention and Intervention divisions in CYFD contract for shelter services and the bill would be an expansion of on-going activities with a focus on domestic violence.

Possible program measures :

1. Number of referrals in one year.

2. Number of referrals resulting in substantiated domestic violence.

3. Number of referrals resulting in placement in a domestic violence shelter.

4. Number of repeat domestic violence victim referrals in one year.

5. Average number of days spent in a domestic violence shelter before returning home.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

HB 92 would appropriate $2,000.0 general fund and $1,900.0 TANF funds to be expended in FY 02 with any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 02 reverting to back to the general fund. This is not part of CYFD's request or executive recommendation. HSD FY 02 budget did not request funding for domestic violence services. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 02 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Since HSD is the recipient of TANF block grant funding, a joint powers agreement (JPA) between HSD and CYFD would be required to transfer the $1.9 million appropriation and ensure compliance with TANF/New Mexico Works and federal maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements provided that the $2000.0 general fund appropriation is used for eligible NM Works participants.

CYFD noted that the increase in referrals could require additional FTE and equipment.

Other significant administrative issues identified by CYFD include:

• •Providing a network of services designed to protect victims of domestic violence through access to emergency shelters located in the various communities in the state, as well as providing other services that will address the safety of children and other vulnerable family members including counseling, case management, transportation and other social services.



• •Addressing the protection of those children who are subjected to the violent behaviors and emotional trauma of domestic violence, or who may be physically harmed as a result of domestic violence in the home.

• •Providing and maintaining a network of community based services throughout the state for victims of domestic violence, and which meet the purposes of TANF so that monies can be transferred to be compliant with TANF state plan.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

The bill is a duplicate of SB 45

HB 2 contains an appropriation for $1.9 million from the TANF block grant in the HSD/ISD budget for domestic violence services. In the current state fiscal year, HSD has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for domestic violence services using current TANF funds of $1.7 million, for one year of services.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

Domestic violence is considered a barrier to employment under TANF regulations. HSD recognizes that additional services and extended time frames are often needed so that TANF clients with domestic violence issues may make the full transition to employment.

CYFD currently allocates $2.5 million in state general and federal categorical funds for domestic violence services. The department funds 23 agencies to provide these services. In addition, the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission receives federal Violence against Women funds to provide domestic violence services statewide.

Research from Town Hall meetings conducted by the NM Commission on the Status of Women in five NM communities established that the number one issue of women was violence. In NM approximately one-third of the female patients in the emergency room, at any one time, are there as a direct result of domestic violence.

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