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

SPONSOR Martinez

DATE TYPED 1/27/05

HB 279

SHORT TITLE Adult Correctional Officer Salary Increase

SB

ANALYST Peery

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$12,500.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 279 appropriates $12,500.0 from the general fund to New Mexico Corrections De-

partment for the purpose of providing a salary increase of three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) per

hour for adult correctional officers of the following ranks: correctional officer one; correctional

officer sergeant; correctional officer two; correctional officer three and correctional officer four.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

NMCD reports the proposed legislation would reduce the difficulties the Department is experi-

encing with recruitment and retention. This should lead to a reduction of mandatory overtime

which would improve the quality of their work and decrease overtime expenditures.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $12,500.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert

to the general fund.

House Bill 279 -- Page 2

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

NMCD states the proposed legislation will have a positive impact in the Department’s ability to

recruit and retain correctional officers.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

NMCD states they would prefer raises be given to its Probation and Parole Officers. The De-

partment reports they did not seek a raise for its Correctional Officers during this legislative ses-

sion due to significant raise in the last few years and the establishing of a 20-year retirement.

NMCD reports the Probation and Parole Officers have not received any raises in recent years,

and are significantly underpaid compared to federal and Bernalillo County Probation and Parole

Officers.

RLP/yr