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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Anderson
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/30/08
HB 530
SHORT TITLE Increase Number of State Police Officers
SB
ANALYST Peery-Galon
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY08
FY09
$15,777.2
Recurring
General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Duplicates Senate Bill 200
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Department of Public Safety (DPS)
State Personnel Office (SPO)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 530 appropriates $15,777.2 from the general fund to the Department of Public Safety
for the purpose of increasing the number of State Police officers and address additional support
staff needs associated with the expansion.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $15,777.2 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.
Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2009 shall revert
to the general fund.
DPS states the appropriation does not address additional operating costs, office space, utilities,
telephones, information technology equipment or State Police vehicles.
pg_0002
House Bill No. 530 – Page
2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
SPO states the proposed legislation does not provide any language identifying specifically how
this appropriation is to be spent. It is unclear how many officers at what rank and how many
support staff in what classifications will be required.
DPS reports it is struggling with recruitment issues just like all law enforcement agencies
nationwide. DPS states it would not be able to undertake an expansion of services of this
magnitude in one year given current recruitment and retention issues.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
SPO notes that additional State Police officers and appropriate support staff should provide more
safety and security to the citizens of New Mexico. This would help DPS in achieving its
identified performance standards.
DPS reports the long-term effects of an expansion of this nature would provide a positive impact
to the citizens of New Mexico and the performance of the department.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
SPO states is not clear on what this funding is to be used for so it cannot be estimated what
impact this may have on administrative and support functions. SPO notes it is unknown if there
is enough physical space available to house additional administrative support personnel given the
limited space at the DPS’s central offices. It is also unknown if DPS would be able to fill its
State Police officer positions in a single year due to a shortage of law enforcement officers
nationwide.
DPS states the department would support a 2 to 4 year implementation plan for this expansion.
DPS also notes that there are issues regarding office space for additional administrative support
personnel given the limited space at headquarters and State Police officers statewide.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
House Bill 530 is a duplication of Senate Bill 200.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
SPO reports there is an ongoing “bidding war" in recruiting qualified law enforcement officers
within the state and across state lines. DPS is currently struggling to fill existing positions with
qualified law enforcement candidates.
ALTERNATIVES
DPS suggests a carefully planned multi-year implementation for the mandated increase in
personnel.
RPG/jp