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 a vailable 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 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 Martinez
DATE TYPED 2/8/05
HB
SHORT TITLE Earned Meritorious Deduction Eligibility
SB 601
ANALYST Peery
APPROPRIATION
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD)
Parole Board (PB)
Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
Public Defenders Department (PDD)
No Responses
Administrative Office of the District Attorneys (AODA)
New Mexico Sentencing Commission (NMSC)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 601 amends Section 33-2-34 (M) NMSA 1978 that allows offenders, other than sex
offenders, serving a parole term following release from prison to be eligible to earn up to 30 days
of “good time” per month while on parole. Under the law, certain parolees may reduce their pa-
role period by 50 percent. Since the current law became effective on July 1, 2004 it only applies
to those offenders who commit their crimes on or after July 1, 2004 to earn this good time while
on parole. The proposed legislation would make the law applicable to an additional group of of-
fenders, those offenders who are currently serving a parole term as of July 1, 2004 as well as
those who began serving a parole term after July 1, 2004.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 601 -- Page 2
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
NMCD states the proposed legislation could improve the Department’s performance of its proba-
tion and parole programs by allowing some offenders to discharge from parole earlier than they
would otherwise thereby reducing parole caseloads, and allowing probation and parole officers
more time and resources to supervise those offenders remaining on probation and parole.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
NMCD reports the proposed legislation could have a positive fiscal impact on the Department.
NMCD estimates that the group of offenders on parole as of July 1, 2004 or who began a parole
period after that date who would be eligible for parole good time under the current law to be
somewhere between 20 and 75 individuals.
The cost per client in Probation and Parole for a standard supervision program is $1,452 per year.
The cost per client in intensive supervision programs is $2,852 per year. The cost per client in
department-operated community corrections programs is $4,371 per year. The cost per client in
privately-operated community corrections programs is $9,151 per year. The cost per year for
male and female residential community corrections programs is $20,725.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
NMCD states the proposed legislation could reduce the administrative burden on the Depart-
ment’s probation and parole officers by additionally reducing their parole caseloads allowing
those officers more time to supervise those still on probation and parole.
PB reports the proposed legislation would create a slight additional burden on the Parole Board
to administer this action.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
AOC reports the proposed legislation conflicts with Senate Bill 63, Senate Bill 236, Senate Bill
599, Senate Bill 600, House Bill 420, House Bill 421 and House Bill 505.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
NMCD’s key quarterly performance measure for “number of regular caseloads of probation and
parole officers” reports second quarter data of 100 with a fiscal year 2005 target of 77.
RLP/njw