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
|
SPONSOR |
|
DATE TYPED |
|
HB |
|
||
|
SHORT
TITLE |
Game & Fish Dept. Employee Salary
Increases |
SB |
554 |
||||
|
|
ANALYST |
Aguilar |
|||||
APPROPRIATION
|
Appropriation
Contained |
Estimated
Additional Impact |
Recurring or
Non-Rec |
Fund Affected |
||
|
FY04 |
FY05 |
FY04 |
FY05 |
||
|
|
$709.0 |
|
|
Recurring |
Game
Protection
Fund |
(Parenthesis
( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to SB2/FLR#1
LFC Files
Responses
Received From
Department
of Game and Fish (DGF)
Response
Not Received From
State
Personnel Office
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 554 appropriates $709 thousand from
the general fund to the Department of Game and Fish for the purpose of providing salary
increases for game and fish law enforcement commissioned conservation officers,
clerical, secretarial, and farm and ranch workers of the department.
The bill makes the appropriation contingent upon
the department adopting a tiered salary schedule for all employees based on
experience and job qualifications; and with respect to commissioned law
enforcement officers, based on education, experience and risk. DGF is directed to request the state
personnel office to reclassify commissioned officers or to assign them to an alternative
pay band.
Significant Issues
The
New Mexico Conservation Officers Association (NMCOA) has approached the
department regarding concern surrounding the recruitment and retention of
officers and salary compaction within the pay group. An investigation of concerns recognized a
segment of employees who are being compensated at a salary that does not
reflect their demonstrated performance in their current positions.
An approximately six month in-house evaluation of
compensation and the duties performed by the officers was undertaken and a
proposed resolution developed. NMCOA has
reviewed the proposal and supports this plan.
Additionally, several State Game Commission members and legislators have
indicated their concern and the need to address this issue. As a result, the plan specified in HB 554 is
being recommended to correct compensation issues among Conservation Officers.
DGF has not completed a study of salary issues in some
of the other classified positions. The
agency is preparing to work with SPO to determine appropriate classification
changes if necessary. It will be
important that SPO
be involved in any reclassification efforts.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $709
thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the game protection
fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered
balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005 shall revert to the game
protection fund
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The legislature may
wish to consider adding the following language:
Page 1, Line 21 after
“provide” insert “up to”
Page 2, Line 4 after
“secretarial” insert “financial
specialists”
PA/yr:dm