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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

01/24/08

HB 336

SHORT TITLE Bernalillo County Justice Conference

SB

ANALYST Escudero

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$50.0 Non-Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Administrative Office of the DA (AODA)

New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD)

Attorney General Office (AGO)

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Public Defender Department (PDD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 336 appropriates $50.0 from the general fund to the local government division of the

Department of Finance and Administration for expenditure in fiscal year 2009 for Bernalillo

County to host a justice conference that will bring together district attorneys, judges, jail

administrators, attorneys, legislators, business leaders and media members to create solutions to

improve the criminal justice system and make it more efficient.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50.0 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert

to the general fund.

House Bill 336 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

As stated by AOC, the outcomes from this conference would determine the role of the court in

regards to the criminal justice system within Bernalillo County. HB 336 does not clarify how the

conference would be planned or who would develop the agenda.

As stated by the PDD, this bill could improve the overall operation of the criminal justice system

and thus possibly decrease recidivism.

As stated by, NMCD, the bill does not invite prison administrators or NMCD employees (be they

prison or probation/parole staff) to the justice conference. Also, while the bill might ultimately

improve the criminal justice system (it is unclear just what needs to be improved), it is unlikely

that the conference will result in any reduction in NMCD’s prison population or probation/parole

caseloads. The bill has no fiscal, administrative or other impact on NMCD.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS:

As stated by AOC, the courts are participating in performance-based budgeting. It is unknown

if enactment of this bill would impact performance measures as they relate to judicial budgeting

and/or performance.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS:

As stated by AOC, in addition, there will be an administrative impact on the courts as a result of

scheduling Bernalillo County area judges’ time to attend. It is unknown whether this would

affect the Metropolitan Court, District Court or both courts.

PME/mt