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

SPONSOR Leavell

DATE TYPED 2/15/05

HB

SHORT TITLE Additional Adult Probation and Parole Officers

SB 798

ANALYST Peery

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$1,200.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Response Received From

New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD)

No Response

Personnel Board (PB)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 798 appropriates $1,200,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Corrections

Department for the purpose of providing 24 additional full-time adult probation and parole offi-

cers.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

NMCD reports an increase in number of probation and parole officers would probably increase

the morale and productivity of probation and parole officers.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $1,200,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2006 shall revert

to the general fund.

Senate Bill 798 -- Page 2

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

NMCD reports the administrative impact to the Department will be positive in that the appropria-

tion will probably improve the department’s ability to recruit and retain probation and parole of-

ficers.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Relates to Senate Bill 771 and Senate Bill 797. Duplicates Senate Bill 770.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

NMCD reports caseloads for probation and parole officers continue to increase, and are currently

between 90-134 offenders per officer. NMCD’s 2

nd

quarter key quarterly performance measure

for “number of regular caseloads of probation and parole officers” was 100. Their FY05 target

for this performance measure is 77. The national standard is only 65 offenders per officer. Ac-

cording to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau statistics, New Mexico’s probation and parole

population growth in percent increase ranked number one in the nation from 1995-2002. NMCD

states based on current projections, it appears that the number of probation and parole clients will

increase by 12 percent by June 30, 2005. NMCD reports the proposed legislation would reduce

the statewide caseload to approximately 82 offenders per officer.

RLP/yr