NOTE: As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

The LFC is only preparing FIRs on bills referred to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. The chief clerks are responsible for preparing and issuing all other bill analyses.

Only the most recent FIR version, excluding attachments, is available on the Intranet. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC office in Room 416 of the State Capitol Building.

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates SB217 Relates to proposed HAFC substitute for House Bill 2, SB 421

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

HB 703 appropriates $25,000 from the general fund to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for expenditure in fiscal year 2000 to provide specialized law enforcement activities in Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties. Furthermore, these funds will be used to provide coordinated law enforcement action to combat increased drug and criminal activity.

Significant Issues

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) reports successfully addressing drug abuse requires a coordinated strategy of education, prevention, treatment and law enforcement on the local, state and federal levels. Enhanced or additional efforts by law enforcement agencies to arrest and convict offenders committing drug related offenses will have a fiscal impact on the judiciary.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

DPS reports, it is unknown whether passage of the proposed legislation will affect any other local, state, or federal matching funds or appropriations.

AOC reports any fiscal impact on the judiciary would be proportional to the enforcement of drug related laws and commenced prosecutions in northern New Mexico. Increased attention toward enhanced enforcement of specific laws has the potential to increase caseloads in the courts, thus requiring additional resources to handle the increase.

Also, the increased workload would not include not only initial case processing and judicial time, but also tracking cases to completion, including probation and compliance with other conditions of release, i.e., treatment.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DPS reports there is indeterminate administrative impact from passage of the proposed legislation.

AOC reports there is an administrative impact on the court resulting from added judicial time needed to dispose of these types of cases in the manner provided under the law.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

HB 703 relates to the proposed House Appropriation and Finance Committee substitute for House Bill 2 of the 1999 regular legislative session which includes $2,230.3 for an additional forty state police officers.

Also, SB 421 increases the budget of the DPS State Police Division by $600,000.00. DPS reports this appropriation will cover the costs of a one-year investigative team to work exclusively in State Police Districts One and Seven.

Hb 703 duplicates SB 217 specialized law enforcement activities.

LAT/prr:gm