[1] NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

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

SPONSOR:	Maes		DATE TYPED:	01/31/02		HB
SHORT TITLE:		1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd Judicial District Staff				SB	321
					ANALYST:		Belmares

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY02	FY03	FY02	FY03
	$1,043.4			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Public Defender Department (PDD)

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 321 appropriates $1,043.4 from the general fund to the Public Defender Department for the purpose of adding 20 full-time equivalents (FTEs) to the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd judicial districts.

Significant Issues

The $1,043.4 appropriation provided by SB 321 is for salary and benefits for added FTEs to deal with caseloads in three judicial districts. The SB 321 appropriation is distributed as follows:

• $262.5 for three attorneys, one special agent, and one secretary for the 1^st Judicial District;
• $319.5 for four attorneys, one special agent and one secretary for the 2^nd Judicial District;
• $193.4 for two attorneys, one special agent and one legal liaison for the Bernalillo Metropolitan Court; and
• $268.0 fro three attorneys, one special agent, and one secretary for the 3^rd Judicial District.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $1,043.4 contained in SB 321 is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY03 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

In responding to SB 321, PDD indicates the three offices affected by the bill (1st, 2^nd and 3^rd Judicial Districts) are understaffed for workload demands. Further, PDD asserts, it has had insufficient staff to cover magistrate court initial appearances and video arraignments, which, with the increased DWI direct and indirect penalties plus harsher penalties for domestic violence cases, has become critical for PDD, the courts, and jail processing.

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