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

SPONSOR:	Rawson		DATE TYPED:	02/22/01		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Jail Diversion for Mentally Ill				SB	464
					ANALYST:		Esquibel

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01

FY02

FY01

FY02

$ 90.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB469, SB9, HB128 and HB198

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Corrections Department (CD)

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

Public Defender's Department (PDD)

No Response

Department of Health (DOH)

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 464 appropriates $90.0 from the general fund to DOH to provide jail diversion services for mentally ill persons in Dona Ana county who would otherwise be incarcerated.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $90.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY02 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Implementation of the bill would have a positive administrative and fiscal impact on the courts system in Dona Ana county insofar as the courts who not have to process the cases of the people who are diverted from jails.

RELATIONSHIP

Senate Bill 464 relates to the following:

•SB469, Mental Health System Initiative, which includes $525.0 for jail diversion programs statewide;

•SB9, Statewide Services for Mentally Ill;

•HB128, Forensic Intervention for Mentally Ill; and

•HB198, Statewide Services for Mentally Ill.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

The PDD suggests the absence of language explaining the nature of the jail diversion services for those "who would otherwise be incarcerated" makes the proposed legislation too vague, particularly when there is a lack of eligibility criteria or standards to be followed. The PDD suggests broadening the bill's language to include PDD in both the selection and processing of prospective clients eligible for diversion.

RAE/ar