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





SPONSOR: Martinez, N. DATE TYPED: 02/26/01 HB
SHORT TITLE: Rio Arriba Costs of Transporting Prisoners SB 525
ANALYST: Padilla


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01 FY02 FY01 FY02
$ 25.0 Recurring General Fund



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Relates to SB472, HB352 and HB547



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC Files



No Response

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Corrections Department

Department of Public Safety (DPS)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



Senate Bill 525 appropriates $25.0 from the general fund to DFA's Local Government Division for the purpose of paying Rio Arriba county for the costs of transporting prisoners.



Significant Issues



The problem of county corrections costs is a perennial issue. Although statute provides for state reimbursement to counties for the transportation and extradition of state prisoners, for the last several years, no appropriation has been made for the reimbursement.



For FY 1999, Rio Arriba county's total general revenues were $10.1 million.









PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS



Local government officials are not subject to the performance requirements in the Accountability in Government Act of 1999. DFA's Local Government Division is, however, part of performance-based budgeting. DFA should consider passing along to local governments the precepts of the Accountability in Government Act to ensure that local governments are accountable for public funds and are focused on the results of their programs and activities.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The appropriation of $25.0 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.



RELATIONSHIP



SB472 and HB352 contain appropriations to support Mora county sheriff's department for housing prisoners. Also relates to House Bill 547, which requires that the state reimburse counties for fifty percent of the cost of extraditing, transporting and feeding state prisoners.



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