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 for other purposes.

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Lopez

 

DATE TYPED:

2/19/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Sexual Assault Treatment and Prevention

 

SB

679

 

 

ANALYST:

Chabot

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

$1,500.0

 

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to SB 372 and HJM-28

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

 

Responses Received From

Administrative Office of the Courts

Department of Health (DOH)

 

Responses Not Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 679 appropriates $1,500.0 to CYFD for the purpose of providing statewide sexual assault treatment program.   The bill contains an emergency clause.

 

     Significant Issues

 

DOH states the Behavioral Health Services Division is statutorily obligated to provide prevention and intervention services by the Sex Crime Prosecution and Treatment Act (Section 29-11-1 to 29-11-7 NMSA 1978).  In addition, the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant requires DOH to provide sexual assault prevention programs.  CYFD does not currently fund these services and only addresses children, 17 years of age and under, in family sexual abuse cases.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $1,500.0 contained in this bill is for expenditure in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 and is a recurring expense to the general fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

 

TECHNICAL ISSUES

 

The bill title, line 12, specifies “Sexual Assault Treatment and Prevention”; however, line 20 refers only to “sexual assault treatment programs.”

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

DOH states it is not clear whether the appropriation is to be for treatment of children who have been sexually assaulted, their families or treatment of perpetuators or offenders.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

  1. What advantages would result in establishing a new program in CYFD?
  2. Should the appropriation be to DOH which can establish a state-wide program for people of all ages?

 

GAC/yr