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	1/29/04		HB	288
SHORT TITLE		Juvenile Detention Services and Alternatives				SB
					ANALYST		Maloy

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
$1,500.0			See Narrative	Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

The Department of the Public Defender

The Children, Youth and Families Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 288 appropriates $1.5 million from the general fund to the regional juvenile services grant fund for expenditure in FY04 and FY05, and subsequent fiscal years, to provide Santa Fe county and other counties:

· non-secure alternatives to detention for juveniles;

· planning, assessment and design of a regional system of juvenile services; and

· development of a multipurpose regional facility serving contiguous counties.

Unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

House Bill 288 contains an emergency clause.

Significant Issues

The Department of the Public Defender notes:

· Detention of juveniles is a last resort. Assisting juveniles to become productive members of society is critical.

· Adequate facilities for juveniles will assist Public Defenders and their juvenile clients in resolving cases.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The Children, Youth and Families Department oversees New Mexico’s comprehensive juvenile justice program. The department is re-focusing the program to “front-end community-based services”, rather than detentions. In doing this, the juvenile detention populations throughout the state will hopefully decline. Seemingly, “non-secure alternatives to detentions for juveniles” would fall in line with and compliment the department’s new program direction.

SJM/lg