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

SPONSOR Anderson

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/30/08

HB 530

SHORT TITLE Increase Number of State Police Officers

SB

ANALYST Peery-Galon

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$15,777.2

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates Senate Bill 200

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

State Personnel Office (SPO)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 530 appropriates $15,777.2 from the general fund to the Department of Public Safety

for the purpose of increasing the number of State Police officers and address additional support

staff needs associated with the expansion.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $15,777.2 contained in this bill is a 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.

DPS states the appropriation does not address additional operating costs, office space, utilities,

telephones, information technology equipment or State Police vehicles.

House Bill No. 530 – Page

2

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

SPO states the proposed legislation does not provide any language identifying specifically how

this appropriation is to be spent. It is unclear how many officers at what rank and how many

support staff in what classifications will be required.

DPS reports it is struggling with recruitment issues just like all law enforcement agencies

nationwide. DPS states it would not be able to undertake an expansion of services of this

magnitude in one year given current recruitment and retention issues.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

SPO notes that additional State Police officers and appropriate support staff should provide more

safety and security to the citizens of New Mexico. This would help DPS in achieving its

identified performance standards.

DPS reports the long-term effects of an expansion of this nature would provide a positive impact

to the citizens of New Mexico and the performance of the department.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

SPO states is not clear on what this funding is to be used for so it cannot be estimated what

impact this may have on administrative and support functions. SPO notes it is unknown if there

is enough physical space available to house additional administrative support personnel given the

limited space at the DPS’s central offices. It is also unknown if DPS would be able to fill its

State Police officer positions in a single year due to a shortage of law enforcement officers

nationwide.

DPS states the department would support a 2 to 4 year implementation plan for this expansion.

DPS also notes that there are issues regarding office space for additional administrative support

personnel given the limited space at headquarters and State Police officers statewide.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

House Bill 530 is a duplication of Senate Bill 200.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

SPO reports there is an ongoing “bidding war" in recruiting qualified law enforcement officers

within the state and across state lines. DPS is currently struggling to fill existing positions with

qualified law enforcement candidates.

ALTERNATIVES

DPS suggests a carefully planned multi-year implementation for the mandated increase in

personnel.

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