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





SPONSOR: Garcia DATE TYPED: 03/04/01 HB
SHORT TITLE: Dona Ana County Juvenile Detention Facilities SB 239/aSPAC
ANALYST: Chabot


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 100.0 Recurring General Fund



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Juvenile Parole Board



SUMMARY



     Synopsis of the SPAC Amendment



The amendment reduces the appropriation from $145.0 to $100.0 and makes the appropriation to the Local Government Division of the Department of Finance and Administration instead of CYFD. It deletes the requirement for a feasibility study for a Dona Ana juvenile assessment center and, therefore, provides funding for the development of the center and support for two contract staff.



Synopsis of Original Bill



This bill appropriates $145.0 from the general fund to CYFD for the purpose of hiring a coordinator and an assistant to oversee development of a juvenile assessment center and to contract for a feasibility study for a juvenile assessment center to be located in Dona Ana county.



Significant Issues



Although this bill appropriates funding for a salaries and benefits for two individuals, it is unclear where these individuals will be assigned. CYFD currently does not have a juvenile assessment facility in Dona Ana County. Temporarily, these individuals could be located in the Dona Ana Juvenile Correctional Facility which is to begin operation in FY2002.





FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $145.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.



TECHNICAL ISSUES



This bill provides an appropriation for a contract to do a feasibility study for a juvenile assessment center in Dona Ana county. However, it also provides for hiring two individuals to oversee the development of the center. This presupposes that the feasibility study will recommend the development of the center. There should be two separate bills:



a. The first would provide an appropriation for a feasibility study of a juvenile assessment center in Dona Ana county. It should specify when the study will be completed and to whom it will be delivered. It should provide a decision mechanism to determine if the center is to be established.



b. If recommended by the feasibility study, a second bill should provide an appropriation for establishing the center and providing for staffing and operation.



GAC/njw:ar