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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to HB87

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

This bill appropriates $200.0 to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico for the purpose of paying for the operating expenses of the Corinne Wolfe Children's Law Center at the UNM School of Law. The appropriation shall be used for salaries and benefits for a director, staff attorney and administrative support staff; and the provision of training, technical assistance, research assistance and information dissemination in the areas of child abuse, child neglect and juvenile justice. Services shall be made available to persons participating in child abuse proceedings, child neglect proceedings and the juvenile justice system including volunteers, attorneys and professionals not employed by the judicial branch of government.

Significant Issues

According to the CHE, the project proposed in this bill was not included in the list of eleven special project requests made by the institution.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $200.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY00 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to the AOC, the Children's Law Center resources will improve the knowledge and skills of attorneys, volunteers, children advocates, law enforcement officials and department social workers handling juvenile and children's cases.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

This bill relates to House Bill 87.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

According to the CHE, the state higher education funding formula allows institutions to retain 100% of earned overhead on federal grants and contracts for the purpose of providing seed money and matching funds for projects such as that proposed in this bill. Of this indirect cost revenue, a portion is used to support salaries of administrative persons monitoring the contracts, utilities and other overhead expenses required to maintain the activities of the contract. However, a great deal of the indirect cost revenues is available to develop new research and public service projects as well as to expand academic departments. The revenue is unrestricted in the sense that the governing board of the institution has the flexibility to chose which projects are supported with these funds.

According to the AOC, the supreme court foster care task force recommended the creation of the Children's Law Center to increase the effectiveness of civil and criminal proceedings related to child abuse and neglect and other proceedings under the New Mexico Children's Code by improving the skills of the professionals involved in these cases. The Children's Law Center will provide relevant, issue driven, state of the art training to attorneys and other professionals involved in legal proceedings under the Children's Code. Training will focus on the most pressing needs and best interests of children as established by on-going needs assessments.

APP/njw