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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 2/21/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Second Judicial District Family Counselor

SB 769

ANALYST McSherry

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

$63.0

NFI

Minimal Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates HB655.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 769 proposes to appropriate $63 thousand dollars from the general fund to the 2

nd

Ju-

dicial District Court for the purpose of funding a full time family counselor in the District’s chil-

dren’s court. Any unencumbered or unexpended funds will revert to the general fund.

Significant Issues

According to the Children Youth and Families Department, the proposed counselor position will

provide support to families in the Second Judicial District Children’s Court and was a need iden-

tified by the National Policy Academy for addressing the needs of youth with co-occurring sub-

stance abuse disorders and juvenile justice involvement.

The Second Judicial District Court included the family counselor in the agency’s budget request.

The proposed funding, and associated FTE, are not included in the LFC or executive budget rec-

ommendations.

The Judiciary Compensation Plan cites a salary range for a Family Counselor as $38.2 thousand

to $59.6 thousand; $47.7 thousand is listed as the position midpoint.

Senate Bill 769 -- Page 2

According to the Administrative Office of the Courts, the second judicial district court’s request

is part of the judiciary’s Unified Budget and includes $58.7 thousand in recurring funds and $4.3

thousand in one-time costs. AOC asserts that the judiciary identified the family counselor as be-

ing critical to the efficient operation of the courts for the second judicial district, along with other

positions.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

CYFD reports that this bill relates to performance indicators defined in New Mexico plan for the

National Policy Academy on juvenile justice issues.

The AOC does not provide examples of what performance measures would improve, nor suggest

a performance measure to demonstrate the implications of the new position. However, the AOC

asserts that staff changes should improve the approved output performance measures of the

court.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $63.0 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense in the amount of

$58.7 thousand and a one-time expense in the amount of $4.3 thousand to the general fund. Any

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

general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The AOC provides that the proposed counselor would assist in the juvenile drug court wilderness

program activity and that the proposed position is necessary for the continuation and success of

the second district juvenile drug court program. AOC states that his position would provide in-

dividual/family and group session counseling services to the juvenile drug court, “Say No to

Abusing Power” program (SNAP), and “Program for the Empowerment of Girls” (PEG).

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

This bill duplicates HB655.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

According to the AOC, the second judicial district would not have adequate funding to support

the current level of court operations. Information regarding what change would disallow the cur-

rent level of court operations was not provided.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

What will disallow the Second Judicial District Court to support current level of opera-

tions as stated by the AOC. Is a source of funding being lost, or are levels of counselor

use increasing.

EM/yr