[1] NOTE:  As provided in LFC policy, this report is intended only for use by the standing finance committees of the legislature.  The Legislative Finance Committee does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this report when used in any other situation.

 

Only the most recent FIR version (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) is available on the Legislative Website.  The Adobe PDF version includes all attachments, whereas the HTML version does not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may be obtained from the LFC’s office in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Watchman

 

DATE TYPED:

02/04/02

 

HB

435

 

SHORT TITLE:

Forensic Investigations on Tribal Lands

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Baca

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

$225.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

(Parenthesis) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act

 

Identical to SB 374

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Commission on Higher Education  (CHE)

LFC Files

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 435 appropriates $225.0 to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico (UNM) for expenditure in FY2003 to conduct forensic investigations and related services as requested by Indian nations, tribes or pueblos in New Mexico.

 

     Significant Issues

 

According to Office of the Medical Investigator, as part of the criminal investigation process they are authorized to conduct mandatory autopsies only where state law is applicable.  Since tribal lands are outside the statutory jurisdiction of the state, they do provide forensic services to tribes when invited to do so but must charge for the services.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                        

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $225.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund  Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY2003shall revert to the  general fund.

 

According to the LFC staff analysis of an identical bill introduced during the 2001 session, the OMI reported that actual amounts billed to tribal governments for forensic services over a three year period were:  FY98, $188.3, FY99, $151.9, FY00190.9, and projected 221.5 for FY01.

 

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

 

The following is provided for information only.  It is not intended as a commentary on the merits of the bill:

 

This request was not included in UNM’s budget request to the CHE. Consequently, it was not reviewed nor recommended by the CHE.

 

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

 

House Bill 435 duplicates Senate Bill 374, Forensic Investigations on Tribal Land.  HB 435 relates to HB 2, the General Appropriation Act, which includes the appropriation for UNM.

 

LB/ar


 [1]Begin typing on the * in replace mode.  Do not add or delete spaces.