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

SPONSOR Maestas

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/26/07

3/8/07 HB 1206/aHJC

SHORT TITLE Info & Driver’s License to Released Inmates

SB

ANALYST Peery-Galon

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY07

FY08

FY09 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

NA Unknown Unknown Unknown Recurring General

Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Response Received From

New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD)

No Response Received From

Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HJC Amendment

The House Judiciary Committee Amendment to House Bill 1206 strikes all language pertaining

to the providing of waiver of fees for New Mexico driver’s licenses and personal identification

cards for persons recently released from correctional facilities.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 1206 amends Chapter 33, Article 2 NMSA 1978 by adding a new section requiring

the New Mexico Corrections Department to provide an inmate, upon the inmate’s release from a

state correctional facility, detailed instructions regarding how to obtain a federal social security

cared, personal identification card and New Mexico driver’s license that includes reinstatement

of a driver’s license and fees that may apply. The proposed legislation adds language stating that

upon proof satisfactory to the motor vehicle division, the motor vehicle division will waive fees

for reinstatement of a driver’s license, driver’s license and personal identification pursuant to this

section for an applicant who applies within 30 days of release from a correctional facility.

House Bill 1206/aHJC – Page

2

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

NMCD reports the proposed legislation may require the department to hire additional staff to

provide the additional services and information to discharged inmates.

The waiving of fees for reinstatement of a driver’s license, driver’s license and personal

identification will have an indeterminable impact on the Motor Vehicle Suspense Fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

Probation and Parole Division is working with the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) on what

documentation the Corrections Department can provide that the MVD will recognize to issue

identification. Parolees do experience problems in obtaining employment and housing without

identification. Sometimes a parolee upon release is given a Corrections Department

identification issued by the correctional facility; however, this identification is not recognized by

any governmental or private entities.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

NMCD’s key quarterly performance measure for “average standard caseload per probation and

parole officer" as of December 31, 2006 was 120. The target for this performance measure in

fiscal year 2007 is 92.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

NMCD reports the department staff already has full caseloads and perform a large number of

duties in regards to inmates. NMCD states the proposed legislation creates more work for staff.

AMENDMENTS

NMCD suggest the proposed legislation be amended to require the department to only provide

relevant telephone numbers of the Motor Vehicle Division, Social Security Administration and

other appropriate entities to all discharged inmates.

RPG/nt