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 Altamirano
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/26/07
2/7/07 HB
SHORT TITLE Peace Officer Benefits to Survivors
SB 433/aSFC
ANALYST Peery-Galon
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
No Responses Received From
Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Attorney General (AG)
New Mexico Municipal League
SUMMARY
Synopsis of SFC Amendment
The Senate Finance Committee amendment changes the supplemental death benefits payable to a
spouse, children or parents for a peace officer killed in the line of duty to $250,000.
Synopsis of Original Bill
Senate Bill 433 increases the supplemental death benefits payable to a surviving spouse, children
or parents of a peace officer killed in the line of duty from $50,000 to $100,000.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The NM Municipal League states the increase in supplemental death benefits is to be funded
from the existing Peace Officers’ Survivors Fund with no additional appropriation. The NM
Municipal League states the Peace Officers’ Survivors Fund should be monitored to insure suffi-
cient funds to make disbursements in accordance with the proposed legislation.
pg_0002
Senate Bill 433/aSFC – Page
2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Section 29-13-7 NMSA 1978 states the Peace Officers’ Survivors Fund is to maintain a mini-
mum amount of $350 thousand. This minimum amount may be insufficient if the supplemental
death benefits payable increases to $250 thousand.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
DPS states survivors of law enforcement officers may suffer unnecessary hardship. DPS reports
the original benefit amount is no longer sufficient to ensure families get a new start after losing
what is usually a typical primary provider for their needs.
RPG/nt