Master FIR (1988)

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

SPONSOR:	Aragon		DATE TYPED:	02/23/01		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Early Intervention for Incorrigible Children				SB	SJM 56
					ANALYST:		Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY01

FY02

FY01

FY02

NFI

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Development Disabilities Planning Council

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

A joint memorial resolving the following:

that the New Mexico Legislative Council designate an appropriate interim committee to address the issue of incorrigible children;
that the committee investigate the need for a program that identifies children who show evidence of negative, at-risk, antisocial or other incorrigible behavior and that supports and empowers parents and communities by using family unified prevention, intervention, law enforcement, educational initiatives and strategies; and
that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the second session of the 45^th legislature.

Significant Issues

According to HPC, under the current Children's Code children must be adjudicated or identified by CYFD before they and their families can get referrals for therapy, counseling, special education services, and other necessary interventions. They state that studies suggest that one in five children and adolescents may have a mental health problem that, without help, can lead to a variety of problems including behavioral ones. The sooner these children are diagnosed and interventions started, the better the chance of reducing incorrigible behavior. CYFD states there is a need to identify those youths that are posing a potential safety issue in their community before any criminal act is committed. Parents and communities would then have the opportunity to use family-based prevention, intervention, and educational initiatives and strategies for behavior modification.

GAC/ar