Master FIR (1988)

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

SPONSOR:	Vernon		DATE TYPED:	03/05/99		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Supreme Court Final Adjudication				SB	396
					ANALYST:		O'Connell

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY99	FY2000	FY99	FY2000	Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
				NFI	NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC files

Administrative Office of the Courts analysis

Corrections Department analysis

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 396 would amend Section 31-20A-4 NMSA 1978 to provide that the Supreme Court shall issue a final adjudication within two years of the filing of the notice of appeal in capital felony cases. The bill also expands the list of aggravating circumstances considered in capital felony cases to include defendants who commit multiple murders and defendants convicted of capital felonies where the victims were less than 11 years of age.

Significant Issues

Passage of Senate Bill 396 could result in more capital felony convictions and could increase the workloads of the courts, district attorneys, public defenders, and the Corrections Department.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

According to Administrative Office of the Courts analysis, two years may not be sufficient time for the Supreme Court to thoroughly consider and review capital felony appeals, due to amount of court and attorney hours required in these cases.

BOC/prr:njw