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

SPONSOR	Beffort		DATE TYPED	01/26/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		Bernalillo Domestic Violence Programs				SB	92
					ANALYST		Wilson

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$730.2			Recurring	General Fund

Duplicates House Bill 113

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 92 appropriates $730.2 thousand from General Fund to the following agencies for expenditure in Fiscal Year 05 for a coordinated domestic violence pilot program between the Second Judicial District and the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court as shown below:

Court	Purpose	Amount
Second Judicial District Coordinated Domestic Violence Pilot Program	for contractual services and to provide salaries, benefits and operating costs for a probation officer, a court psychologist and a judicial specialist	$225,900
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Coordinated Domestic Violence Pilot Program	for salary, benefits and operating costs for a probation officer	$51,700
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Domestic Violence Pilot Program	for contractual services and to provide salaries, benefits and operating costs for a probation officer, court psychologist and judicial specialist	$322,500
Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Domestic Violence Early Intervention Program Expansion	for salaries, benefits and operating costs for a probation officer and judicial specialist	$130,100
Total		$730,200

The Second Judicial District and the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court seek to implement this domestic violence project to provide innovative pilot programs and expand existing services that intervene on domestic violence cases in Bernalillo County. Both courts have expertise in developing and providing effective intervention programs. Utilizing their expertise, these two courts will develop programs targeting recidivist abusers, their victims and children. The strengths of the programs emphasize shared resources and expertise, a coordinated communication system, and a proven treatment model. While operating independently with judges and limited staff, the programs share the model of one-on-one judicial interaction, rapid and consistent court responses, intensive supervision, and program structure. Each court shall have a probation officer providing supervision and case management services for their court’s participants.

Significant Issues

AOC data indicates approximately 7,006 (new and reopened) domestic violence cases in Bernalillo County in FY 03. These two courts recognize the serious problem of domestic violence in Bernalillo County and the tremendous harm being caused in individuals’ lives.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $730.2 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the General Fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of Fiscal Year 2005 shall revert to the General Fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The administrative effect on the two courts upon passage of the bill would be a more effective way of dealing with domestic violence cases in Bernalillo County. There will be increased interaction between the Second Judicial District and the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court through these domestic violence programs. As part of these efforts, the probation officers and judicial officers will work together to address these families, by targeting families at both courts. This is important because the courts will work together to deal more comprehensively with the issue and these programs will help to reduce duplicate services currently being provided.

DW/yr:prr