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

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Griego

 

DATE TYPED:

02/05/02

 

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE:

Santa Fe Substance Abuse Treatment Services

 

SB

315

 

 

ANALYST:

Wilson

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

 

 

 

$500.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to SB 269

 

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

   

Department of Health (DOH)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

Senate Bill 315 appropriates $500.0 from the general fund to the Department of Health for expenditure in fiscal year 2003 as follows: (1)$250.0 for treatment of “mental health and co-occurring disorders” associated with alcohol and substance abuse in Santa Fe County; (2) $250.0 to develop a drug and alcohol detoxification facility in Santa Fe County. 

 

     Significant Issues

 

There are several facilities in Santa Fe County that provide treatment for individuals with mental health and co-occurring substance abuse disorders.  There is also a collaboration of approximately thirty agencies led by Santa Fe County, The Care Connection.  This effort is to create a more coordinated system of care and divert people from the emergency rooms and the court system.  The goal is to create a centralized assessment and treatment center. 

DOH notes that the legislation could create duplication of effort by multiple state agencies, reinforcing the history of insufficient planning of substance abuse services in Santa Fe County.  Also, the language does not reference the regional care coordination structure in place across New Mexico for substance abuse and mental health funding.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $500.0 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

 

DOH reports that the language in SB 315 lacks sufficient guidance to obtain a complete view of administrative impact on the department.   However, in part, the intent appears to be the development of a new detox facility. This would require significant time, planning and procurement efforts on the part of Department of Health, Behavioral Health Services Division and the Region Two Regional Care Coordinator.

 

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

 

SB 315 relates to SB269, which would allocate $150,000 for short-term detox services for a facility in Santa Fe County.

 

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

 

DOH recognizes the need for funding of substance abuse treatment programs, which is clearly demonstrated in the review of data on indicators of alcohol and drug abuse in New Mexico. New Mexico ranks among the highest in the nation on measures of substance abuse. For example, from CDC Wonder, the rate of illicit drug overdose death rates for New Mexico in 1997 is 14.7, compared to the national average in 1997 of 6.2.  

 

DOH has concerns about SB 315, in that it could contribute to poor planning, duplication, and reoccurring costs. The DOH is in the process of completing a statewide Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Gap Analysis.  All substance abuse and mental health service allocations should be made consistent with the findings of the analysis.

 

BD/njw


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