Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

 

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).  Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also 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

Trujillo

DATE TYPED

1/27/04

HB

183

 

SHORT TITLE

Santa Fe Teen Court

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST

Koplik

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

$35.0

 

 

Recurring

General  Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 183 appropriates $35 thousand from the general fund to the Local Government Division of the Department of Finance and Administration for the purpose of funding Santa Fe County’s teen court program.

 

     Significant Issues

 

  1. Teen court is a program designed for first-time teen offenders to keep their records clean.  A jury composed of local teens does not decide innocence or guilt of an offender, but assesses the sentence of the offender.  The offender must openly admit commission of a delinquent act in front of the teen jury.  If the offender admits to a delinquent act, accepts the “sentence” of the teen jury and successfully completes it, then the delinquent act is dismissed and the offender pays no fine.

 

  1. According to DOH, there are currently 22 teen courts in operation around New Mexico.  Many of them have received funding from DFA’s DWI grant program; others from county and municipal funding sources.  The Santa Fe County teen may also want to consider applying for funding from DFA’s DWI grant program to support its operations.

 

  1. It may be that local municipal courts are the most appropriate to fund and administer teen court programs since they mainly involve misdemeanor violations.

 

  1. Has the state has been providing yearly funding to Santa Fe’s teen court through DFA’s Local Government Division.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $35 thousand contained in this bill 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.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

1.                  How effective is Santa Fe’s Teen Court program?

2.                  Has the state provided yearly funding to Santa Fe’s teen court through DFA’s Local Government Division?

 

RLG/yr:sb:njw