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

Anderson

DATE TYPED

1/27/04

HB

193

 

SHORT TITLE

2nd District Teen Court Program

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST

Koplik

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

$32.0

 

 

Recurring

General  Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

 

       Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 193 appropriates $32 thousand from the general fund to the 2nd Judicial District Court for the purpose of funding a 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.  Programs may also apply for funding from DFA’s DWI grant program to support operations. Teen courts funded through district courts are vulnerable to termination and insufficient funding.

 

  1. Local municipal courts may be the most appropriate way to fund and administer teen court programs since they mainly involve misdemeanor violations.
  2. AOC did not provided any information regarding teen court operations in their responses to the LFC.  The Second Judicial District did not request these funds.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $32 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring type of expense to the general fund.  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund. 

 

Generally, teen court programs are funded through the Local Government Division of the Department of Finance and Administration.  The solitary teen court still attached to a district court lost all funding in FY 2004, as it was deemed a non-essential court function.  If programs are to be effective, teen courts must have a recurring revenue stream.

 

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

 

How effective is Bernalillo County’s Teen Court program?

 

RLG/yr:lg