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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

SB61 amends Section 29-2-6 NMSA 1978 to revise the education qualifications for new State Police officers. It allows members of the New Mexico State Police, at the time of their appointment, to have completed thirty (30) hours of college credit, and to complete no less than an additional thirty (30) hours of college credit within two years after appointment

Significant Issues

SB61 changes sixty (60) hours of college credit upon appointment, to complete thirty (30) hours of college credit upon appointment, with an additional number of college credit hours to total no less than sixty (60) college credit hours within two (2) years of appointment.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

This section should explain how the bill will affect the performance of relevant agency programs.

Highlight any relevant performance measures and discuss how performance targets would be impacted by the bill. If the bill would expand a performance-based budgeting program, suggest measures that could be used to assess the effectiveness of the expansion.

DPS is in the second year of performance-based budgeting in FY02. The analysis provided by DPS did not contain a discussion on performance measures and how they relate to the agency mission.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

DPS may experience significant fiscal impact on the State Police Division if the division is required to pay for the employee's additional college hours. The department's current tuition reimbursement policy, PRS:02:00, states that if any employee is directed by a supervisor to attend a course, or a course is part of an employee's certification or job requirement, then the division for which the employee works must pay.

DPS reports the passage of SB61 may impact the department in tuition reimbursement. Currently, the Department spends $10,000 in tuition reimbursement for employees attending college. This amount will reimburse approximately 15 people. We estimate that an additional 50 people per year may need tuition reimbursement. The additional reimbursement equates to approximately $35,000 recurring above the current $10,000.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

SB61 could have a great impact on the number of applicants available for recruiting. A number of applicants have some college credits, but not enough to enter the recruit school. This would also allow recruiting officers to recruit applicants with no college credits, and give them a chance to continue

LAT/njw