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





SPONSOR: Feldman DATE TYPED: 01/26/01 HB
SHORT TITLE: Funding for Domestic Violence Shelters SB 45
ANALYST: Dunbar


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 2,000.0 Rec GF
$ 1,900.0 Rec TANF Block Grant



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates/Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act HB 2 contains an appropriation for $1.900.0 from the TANF block grant for domestic violence services.



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Commission on the Status of Women

Human Services Department

Child Youth and Families Department



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



Senate bill 45 makes an appropriation to the Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) of $3,900,000.00 for domestic violence shelters and programs. The funding sources are $2 million from the state general fund and $1.9 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant administered by the Human Services Department (HSD).



The bill provides for $2000.0 from the general fund to contract with domestic violence programs and shelters statewide to provide services to victims of domestic violence and there families. It also allocates $1.900.0 from the TANF block to contract with domestic violence programs and shelters statewide to provide services to victims of domestic violence and there families who are enrolled in the TANF program.



Significant Issues



HSD has adopted domestic violence option regulations that allow time limit waivers to the work requirements for persons affected by domestic violence. Providing domestic violence services to TANF eligible clients would support the state's family violence option waiver and assist these clients in moving more effectively toward self-sufficiency.



The Commission on the Status of Women reports that 19,500 NM wives are severely assaulted by their husbands or partners each year. It is estimated that alcohol is involved in 85% of domestic violence incidents in NM.



According to CYFD the TANF funding currently appropriated to CYFD is utilized for Child Care Services, Protective Services and Juvenile Justice Services. This bill would mandate CYFD to administer an additional new program, Domestic Violence Services. Administration of this program could impact the Protective Services and Prevention & Intervention divisions. Currently the Protective Services division operates the Statewide Central Intake System ( 1-800 797-3260) where domestic violence referrals where the safety of children is an issue is currently provided.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS



Currently Both Protective Services and Prevention and Intervention divisions in CYFD contract for shelter services and the bill would be an expansion of on-going activities with a focus on domestic violence.

Possible program measures:



1. Number of referrals in one year.

2. Number of referrals resulting in substantiated domestic violence.

3. Number of referrals resulting in placement in a domestic violence shelter.

4. Number of repeat domestic violence victim referrals in one year.

5. Average number of days spent in a domestic violence shelter before returning home.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



SB 45 would appropriate $2,000.0 general fund and $1,900.0 TANF funds to be expended in FY 02 with any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 02 reverting to back to the general fund. This is not part of CYFD's request or executive recommendation. The HSD FY 02 budget did not request funding for domestic violence services. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 02 shall revert to the general fund.



ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



Since HSD is the recipient of TANF block grant funding, a joint powers agreement (JPA) between HSD and CYFD would be required to transfer the $1.9 million appropriation and ensure compliance

with TANF/New Mexico Works and federal maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements provided that the $2000.0 general fund appropriation is used for eligible NM Works participants..



CYFD noted that the increase in referrals could require additional FTE and equipment.





Other significant administrative issues identified by CYFD include:





CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP



The bill is a duplicate of HB 92



HB 2 contains an appropriation for $1.9 million from the TANF block grant in the HSD budget for domestic violence services. In the current state fiscal year, HSD/ISD has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for domestic violence services using current TANF funds of $1.7 million, for one year of services.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



Domestic violence is considered a barrier to employment under TANF regulations. HSD recognizes that additional services and extended time frames are often needed so that TANF clients with domestic violence issues may make the full transition to employment.



CYFD currently allocates $2.5 million in state general and federal categorical funds for domestic violence services. The department funds 23 agencies to provide these services. In addition, the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission receives federal Violence against Women funds to provide domestic violence services statewide.



Research from Town Hall meetings conducted by the NM Commission on the Status of Women in five NM communities established that the number one issue of women was violence. In NM approximately one-third of the female patients in the emergency room, at any one time, are there as a direct result of domestic violence.

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