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

SPONSOR:	Fidel		DATE TYPED:	02/15/99		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Claims Against Governmental Agencies				SB	471
					ANALYST:		Woodlee

APPROPRIATION

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

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Conflicts with House Bill 34, Damage Claims Record Inspections (Varela)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Personnel Board

Administrative Office of the Courts

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 471 amends Section 15-7-3 NMSA 1978, Subsection A12 and Section 15-7-9, Subsection A2. The bill removes the 180 day waiting period to obtain as public records information about claims against governmental entities. In addition, the bill provides that the Attorney General has exclusive authority to represent the Risk Management Division of the General Services Department against claims.

Significant Issues

The Attorney General would have exclusive authority to represent the Risk Management Division or public employees, however, they may also contract with private law firms or attorney on a per hour basis.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

There is no appropriation made in this bill.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

This bill is in conflict with House Bill 34, sponsored by Representative Varela, which would change the 180-day waiting period to a 30-day waiting period.

MW/njw