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

SPONSOR:	Lopez		DATE TYPED:	2/19/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Sexual Assault Treatment and Prevention				SB	679
					ANALYST:		Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
$1,500.0				Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB 372 and HJM-28

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Administrative Office of the Courts

Department of Health (DOH)

Responses Not Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 679 appropriates $1,500.0 to CYFD for the purpose of providing statewide sexual assault treatment program. The bill contains an emergency clause.

Significant Issues

DOH states the Behavioral Health Services Division is statutorily obligated to provide prevention and intervention services by the Sex Crime Prosecution and Treatment Act (Section 29-11-1 to 29-11-7 NMSA 1978). In addition, the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant requires DOH to provide sexual assault prevention programs. CYFD does not currently fund these services and only addresses children, 17 years of age and under, in family sexual abuse cases.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $1,500.0 contained in this bill is for expenditure in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 and 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

The bill title, line 12, specifies “Sexual Assault Treatment and Prevention”; however, line 20 refers only to “sexual assault treatment programs.”

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

DOH states it is not clear whether the appropriation is to be for treatment of children who have been sexually assaulted, their families or treatment of perpetuators or offenders.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. What advantages would result in establishing a new program in CYFD?
2. Should the appropriation be to DOH which can establish a state-wide program for people of all ages?

GAC/yr