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.

 

The most recent FIR version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative Website.  The Adobe PDF version includes all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Jennings

 

DATE TYPED:

2/24/03

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Sheriffs with Advanced Certification

 

SB

522

 

 

ANALYST:

Wilson

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

 

See Narrative

Recurring

Local

 

REVENUE

 

Estimated Revenue

Subsequent

Years Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

 

Minimal

 

Recurring

OSF

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 522 requires a county to pay, in addition to normal salary, a $1500 training increment for each level of advanced certification a sheriff has been awarded by the Law Enforcement Academy.

 

     Significant Issues

 

SB 522 could serve as an incentive for county sheriffs to participate in more training, and keep abreast of the state of the art in law enforcement. This will benefit the New Mexico citizens because they will have a more professional and better trained sheriff.  

 

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

SB 522 could bring a small amount of additional revenue to the DPS Training & Recruiting Division, estimated at $500.00 a year.  There is a $10.00 application fee for each different level of advanced certification.  There are seven levels of advanced certification.  However, there is only a total maximum population of 33 individuals, many of whom have some level of advanced certification at present.

 

It is not possible to know the current certification level of the 33 sheriffs, or the credentials of those elected in the future. Furthermore, it is not known how many sheriffs will chose to take the training courses.

 

The Law Enforcement Academy’s advanced certification program is only open to certified New Mexico law enforcement officers.  County Sheriffs are not required to be certified; in fact, there are a number of county sheriffs who are not.  Therefore, some of the present county sheriffs would not be eligible for the additional salary.

 

DPS notes SB 522 could conceivably raise a county sheriff’s salary by $10,500 a year. To a small county, this would be a substantial increase to a payroll.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

 

SB 522 will not have any significant affect on the administrative operations for the DPS Training & Recruiting Division.

 

Smaller counties might have some difficulty providing law enforcement coverage while their sheriff takes training courses.

 

DWyr