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

SPONSOR:	Park		DATE TYPED:	1/27/03		HB	46
SHORT TITLE:		Interstate Compact for Juveniles				SB
					ANALYST:		Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
			$.01	Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Attorney General (AG)

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Criminal and Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 46 enacts statutes and legally joins New Mexico in the Interstate Compact for Juveniles. The compact provides for the proper supervision of juveniles who are on probation or parole and leave the state without permission. The compact is authorized under the U.S. Crime Control Act and provides for cooperation in juvenile matters among the compacting states, development of a common data system and coordinated training and education. The compact becomes effective upon agreement of no less than 35 states. The bill also repeals Sections 32A-10-1 through 32A-10-8 NMSA 1978 pertaining to current Interstate Compact on Juveniles.

Significant Issues

The AG points out that if the bill is not enacted, membership in the current Interstate Compact on Juveniles will remain in effect and New Mexico would not be a party to the new compact.

CYFD states that the compact is essentially the same as the existing statute with the following exceptions:

1. Establishment of a system of uniform data collection on information pertaining to juveniles subject to the compact with access by authorized juvenile justice and criminal justice officials;
2. Regular reporting of compact activities to senior officials in the executive, judicial and legislative branches in each state and to the criminal justice administrators;
3. Establishment of an Interstate Commission for Juveniles to oversee the implementation of the compact including the levying of annual dues and having a voting commissioner from each state;
4. Requirement for a state council for interstate juvenile supervision;
5. Allows the Interstate Commission to initiate legal action against a member state to enforce compliance with the compact.

CYFD states the new compact will allow New Mexico to provide positive services to juveniles under the compact. CYFD currently has 1 FTE assigned to manage compact activities.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

House Bill 46 does not contain an appropriation; however, there will be some costs of membership. Article VIII B. states “the interstate commission shall levy on and collect an annual assessment from each compacting state to cover the cost of internal operations and activities…”

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

CYFD will have to identify a commissioner and compact administrator and participate in the annual meeting and provide cooperating in all interstate compact efforts. CYFD will have to ensure compliance with all aspects of the compact.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. What are the benefits and disadvantages of joining the Interstate Compact for Juveniles?
2. How many states have joined the compact? What is the major reason for non-membership ?

GAC/yr