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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Education (SDE)

Human Services Department (HSD)

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HJC Substitute

The House Judiciary Committee Substitute for House Bill 333 does not change the original intent of the bill, but changes the composition of the task force and directs the task force to be under the direction of the chief judge for the Second Judicial District. The committee substitute also directs the task force to study programs that operate in Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia counties.

HB 333/HJCS creates a task force to study and recommend to the legislature programs to divert children from a life of crime. The bill defines the membership and duties and appropriates $135.0 from the general fund to the Department of Health for expenditures in FY00 and FY01.

Significant Issues

The task force membership would include (1) from the Children, Youth and Families Department; (1) from the Department of Health; (1) Albuquerque department of family and community services; Albuquerque public school district; Albuquerque police department; Bernalillo county sheriff's department; Bernalillo county juvenile detention center; a children's court judge from the second judicial district; an assistant district attorney who practices in the children's court in the second judicial district; a public defender who practices in the children's court in the second judicial district; a guardian ad litem; a representative of the county maternal and child health planning council; the executive secretary of the Albuquerque council of churches; and three public members from interested child-oriented organizations. All task force members shall be appointed by the chief judge for the second judicial district.

Duties of the Task Force include:

1. Examine programs providing opportunities to divert children from a life of crime;

- home visits by child-care professionals starting before birth and continuing for the first two years of a child's life;

- training for parents and therapy for families with school-age children who have exhibited inappropriate aggression or unhealthy behavior in school;

- creating incentives, including cash to induce disadvantage students to complete their education;

- monitor and supervise youth who have exhibited delinquent behavior;

2. Make a preliminary progress report to the legislative education study committee, the legislative finance committee and the interim legislative health and human services committee and the interim legislative committee with jurisdiction over criminal law issues, at their respective October 1999 meetings;

3. Present the task force's final report, including legislative recommendations, to the same committees by October 31, 2000.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Appropriates $135.0 to the local government division of the Department of Finance and Administration. The appropriation is for FY00 and FY01. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY00 shall revert to the general fund. The funds will be used to contract with a criminal justice planning body in Bernalillo county that will support the work of the task force.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The bill appropriates funds for expenditures in FY00 and FY01; however, the reversion date for unexpended balances is at the end of FY00.

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