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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Sanchez, M
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
02/15/07
HB
SHORT TITLE Sexually Abusive Youth Treatment Training
SB 873
ANALYST Geisler
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
$150.0
Recurring
General
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplication: HB 166
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department on Health (DOH)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 873, sponsored by the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, would
appropriate $150,000 to the Department of Health (DOH) in FY08 to provide funding for a two-
week training course for 60 therapists working in community mental health centers, rape crisis
centers, youth violence prevention agencies, agencies providing adolescent sex offender therapy,
and similar agencies in the Native American community. This two-week training program would
provide participating therapists with credentials for the treatment of sexually abusive youth. Each
participating therapist would be required to sign a contract to continue their existing work for
one year following certification. Any unexpended or unencumbered funds would revert to the
general fund at the end of FY08.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
DOH notes that this funding was not included in the FY08 operating budget request and that the
funding appears to be sufficient to accomplish the intent of the bill.
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Senate Bill 873 – Page
2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Senate Bill 873 would increase the number of therapists trained to provide treatment to sexually
abusive youth in New Mexico by 60 individuals statewide. Recent research suggests that there
are important distinctions between juvenile and adult sexual offenders. There is little evidence to
support the assumption that the majority of juvenile sexual offenders are destined to become
adult sexual offenders. The significantly lower frequency of more extreme forms of sexual
aggression, fantasy, and compulsivity among juveniles than among adults suggests that many
juveniles have sexual behavior problems that may be more amenable to intervention. In fact,
recent prospective and clinical outcome studies suggest that many juveniles who sexually abuse
will cease this behavior by the time they reach adulthood, especially if they are provided with
specialized treatment and supervision.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
DOH notes that implementation of Senate Bill 873 would require the development and release of
a RFP to identify an appropriate organization able to provide training and certification for
treatment of sexually abusive youth. Additionally, DOH would have to identify a contract
manager to ensure adequate completion of training tasks and adherence to requirement that
participants provide treatment for one year following certification.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
Sexual violence is a serious problem in New Mexico. Research from the National Violence
Against Women Prevention Research Center (NVAWPRC) suggests that 19% of New Mexican
adult women have been raped at least once during their lifetime. This rate places New Mexico
9th in the nation for lifetime prevalence of rape among adult women in the US. Unpublished
results from the Statewide Survey of Victimization in New Mexico in 2006 found that 24% of
females and 5% of males have been victims of completed or attempted rapes in 2005. Survey
results also showed that 33% of all adult women and 7% of adult men (18 and older) in New
Mexico have been victims of completed or attempted rape sometime in their life.
Sexual assaults committed by youth are a growing concern. Currently, it is estimated that
adolescents (ages 13 to 17) account for up to one-fifth of all rapes and one-half of all cases of
child molestation committed each year nationwide (Barbaree, Hudson, and Seto, 1993).
DUPLICATION
SB 873 is duplicated by HB 166.
GG/csd