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

SPONSOR Papen

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1-24-06

1-24-06 HB

SHORT TITLE

DONA ANA DETENTION CENTER

PSYCHIATRIC UNIT

SB 179

ANALYST Hadwiger

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$517.2

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC)

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 179 appropriates $517,200 from the general fund to the Local Government Division

of the Department of Finance and Administration in FY07 to establish and operate a psychiatric

unit at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $517,200 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY07 would revert to the

general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

DDPC indicated that individuals with developmental disabilities, especially mental retardation,

who also have duel diagnosis often, end up in correctional systems instead of treatment facilities.

This psychiatric unit could help identify this group and divert them to a more appropriate place

instead of jail.

Senate Bill 179 – Page 2

Additionally, DFA noted that the psychiatric unit could offer more appropriate care for mentally

ill inmates and could, as a result, help insulate the county from lawsuits.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

DFA noted that SB179 appropriates funding for FY07, and indicated concern that, without con-

tinued operating costs, the unit would not be effective beyond FY07.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

DFA indicated that the agency will execute a joint powers agreement or a memorandum of un-

derstanding with the Dona Ana county detention center to operate the unit.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

DFA indicated the appropriation in this bill is not a Local Government Division function. His-

torically, the Department of Health is the lead agency on treatment issues in the state.

DH/mt:nt