HOUSE BILL 34

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

John A. Heaton

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR STATEWIDE PROGRAMS THAT AFFECT NEW MEXICO CHILDREN.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. The following amounts are appropriated from the general fund to the administrative office of the courts for expenditure in fiscal year 2006 for the following purposes:

                (1) three hundred fifty–six thousand three hundred thirteen dollars ($356,313) for court-appointed attorney fee to increase the number of compensated hours paid statewide to attorneys in abuse and neglect cases;

                (2) three hundred five thousand six hundred seventy-six dollars ($305,676) to replace federal grant funds for mediation services in abuse and neglect cases in the second, fifth, sixth, seventh, eleventh and thirteenth judicial districts, expand mediation services to additional judicial districts and fund network services for training and quality assurance;

                (3) one hundred twenty-eight thousand two hundred forty-eight dollars ($128,248) to expand existing court-appointed special advocate programs in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth judicial districts and add new programs in the sixth and thirteenth judicial districts;

                (4) two hundred forty thousand nine hundred fifty-eight dollars ($240,958) to maintain existing access and visitation programs in the first, second, fifth, ninth and thirteenth judicial districts, add new programs to additional judicial districts and fund network services for training and quality assurance.

          B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert to the general fund.

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