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

SPONSOR:	Taylor, J.P.		DATE TYPED:	3/14/03		HB	199/aHAFC/aSPAC
SHORT TITLE:		Create Youth Council				SB
					ANALYST:		Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
			$150.0	Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Duplicates SB 425

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

No Responses Received From

Governor’s Office

Lieutenant Governor’s Office

SUMMARY

Synopsis of SPAC Amendment

The Senate Public Affairs Committee amendment to House Bill 199 makes the bill a duplicate of SB 425. It strikes the HAFC amendment and raises the minimum age of youth participants from 12 to 14 years of age, changes entities assisting the selection of council representatives from “school guidance counselors” to “educational youth advisors, faith-based organizations and community-based youth-serving organizations”, and requires that there is adequate adult supervision for youths participating in council activities.

The result is a youth council is created that with no appropriation to fund it. The original appropriation was for $150.0.

Synopsis of HAFC Amendment

The House Appropriation and Finance Committee Amendment to House Bill 199 changes the title of the act to “The Youth Council Act” and provides for a member from each legislative district. The Youth Council is to issue a report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Legislature by November 15 each year.

The amendment strikes the appropriation.

Significant Issues

The amended bill will creates the Youth Council with a membership of 112 individuals without providing funding or staff support. CYFD will have to fund for this council out of the operating budget.

Synopsis of Original Bill

House Bill 199 appropriates $150.0 from the general fund to CYFD for the purpose of creating a Youth Council to advise the Governor and Lieutenant Governor on problems affecting youth and offering possible solutions. Representation on the council is to be one youth, age 12 to 19, from each county. The council is to meet at least four times a year; the Lieutenant Governor will attend all meetings and the Governor will attend at least two of the meetings. The council will issue an annual report by December 15 of each year. One FTE would be authorized in the CYFD, Office of the Secretary, to administer and coordinate youth council activities.

Significant Issues

Using one representative for each county would not provide equal representation by youth population throughout the state. It is important for both rural and urban youth to be represented.

CYFD is concerned about whether the Youth Council will be permanent and if the coordinator position will be permanent FTE assigned to oversee council activities. It appears the intent is to create a permanent Youth Council and expenses, including personal services and employee benefits, would be funded by the appropriation.

CYFD also states that federal regulations require consumer, client and public input to programs in the Child and Adult Protective Services Program (CAPSD). As a result, a foster youth council, Youth Advocates for New Mexico was created. A youth council at the Secretary level would enhance CAPSD youth programs statewide.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $150.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

CYFD recommends striking “nineteen” on page 1, line 25 and replace it with “twenty-one” to comply with federal definitions of a youth.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. If the purpose of the council is to advise the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, should the council coordinator positionto be located in the Lieutenant Governor’s office rather than in CYFD ?

GAC/ls/njw:yr