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

SPONSOR:	Garcia		DATE TYPED:	01/21/02		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Youth Mental Health Advocate				SB	102
					ANALYST:		Belmares

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

$56.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Public Defender Department (PDD)

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 102 appropriates $56.0 from the general fund to support a statewide advocacy position to ensure appropriate representation for youth with developmental disabilities or mental health issues.

Significant Issues

The Public Defender Department (PDD) created a mental health unit in 1990. At that time, PDD was under the threat of lawsuit by mental health consumers and their advocates and juvenile developmental disabilities and mental health issues, placements, treatment and professional training were not included in the mental health unit. However, PDD asserts that the decreasing availability of residential treatment, day programs and other resources for juveniles has resulted in a substantial increase in juvenile mental health and developmental disabilities issues in Children’s Court.

In FY01, the Juvenile Crime Enforcement Coalition (JCEC) awarded PDD a grant for an attorney position for legal advocacy on behalf of juveniles with mental health, mental retardation and developmental disabilities. PDD indicates that it cannot meet the demand for those services with its current staff and resources upon expiration of the JCEC grant in early FY03 and that it would use the appropriation contained within this bill to continue the efforts of the current lost grant-funded position.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $56.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2003 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The ancillary costs and administrative implications associated with a statewide advocacy position have already been absorbed by the agency as the organization has accommodated the current grant-funded advocacy position.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The bill is unclear whether the funding is intended to fund a term, permanent, or contract position.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Is the intention of the bill to fund a term, permanent, or contract position?

EEB/njw