HOUSE BILL 258

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Gail Chasey

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

AND THE COURTS, CORRECTIONS AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO ESTABLISH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR JAILED AND INCARCERATED PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.

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

     Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Three million three hundred twenty thousand dollars ($3,320,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the children, youth and families department for expenditure in fiscal year 2008 in the following amounts and for the following purposes:

                (1) two million six hundred thousand dollars ($2,600,000) to contract with community-based providers to work within local detention facilities to link children and their caretakers to resources and to facilitate communication and visitation between jailed and incarcerated parents and their children;

                (2) five hundred twenty thousand dollars ($520,000) to contract with four detention facilities to develop and implement contact visitation programs between jailed and incarcerated parents and their children; and

                (3) two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) for equipment to establish videoconferencing capability between the children, youth and families department and corrections department detention facilities.

          B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2008 shall revert to the general fund.

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