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

SPONSOR:	Madalena		DATE TYPED:	01/25/02		HB	150
SHORT TITLE:		Native American Spiritual Advisor				SB
					ANALYST:		Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

$50.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB86

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received

Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 150 appropriates $50.0 from the general fund to CYFD to fund a full time Native American spiritual advisor to serve all of the state-funded juvenile detention facilities in which Native American youth are detained.

Significant Issues

CYFD is required to provide services to youths committed by the courts to CYFD juvenile correctional facilities. This bill would provide spiritual counseling, to youth that request it. CYFD does not have information on the numbers of individuals who might request this service if it was offered.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $50.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 03 shall revert to the general fund.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The bill does not specify if CYFD should contract or hire an FTE to perform these services.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Language should be considered that specifies contracting for the service.

RELATIONSHIP

The bill relates to HB86, which appropriates $75.0 to the Department of Corrections for two FTE as Native American spiritual advisers.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

As written, the bill states that the Native American spiritual advisor will serve all state funded juvenile detention facilities, which includes CYFD juvenile facilities and all other juvenile detention facilities in each New Mexico County. It is unclear if the intent of this bill was specific to CYFD facilities or all New Mexico detention facilities. It is not clear if youth detained in Department of Health (DOH) mental health facilities are to be covered by this bill.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. Does the service extend beyond CYFD juvenile facilities to all other juvenile detention facilities?

2. Does the service extend to DOH mental health facilities for youth detained is such facilities?

BD/ar