HOUSE BILL 182

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph Cervantes

AN ACT

RELATING TO CRIMINAL SENTENCING; REQUIRING THE NEW MEXICO SENTENCING COMMISSION TO PREPARE FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENTS FOR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCREASE, DECREASE OR CREATE CRIMINAL PENALTIES; REQUIRING THAT AN APPROPRIATION ACCOMPANY SUCH LEGISLATION; CREATING A FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. LEGISLATION TO INCREASE, DECREASE OR CREATE PERIODS OF IMPRISONMENT--FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENTS--PROCEDURE.--

          A. The New Mexico sentencing commission shall prepare a fiscal impact statement as provided in this section for a bill that:

                (1) creates a new crime or repeals an existing crime for which imprisonment is authorized;

                (2) increases or decreases the period of imprisonment authorized for an existing crime;

                (3) imposes or removes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment; or

                (4) modifies the law governing release of inmates in such a way that the time served in prison will increase or decrease.

          B. A fiscal impact statement shall reflect the estimated increase in annual operating costs for the corrections department attributable to the bill if it becomes law. The estimated increase in annual operating costs shall reflect the highest annual increase from the projected increase for the six fiscal years following the effective date of the law and shall be calculated in current dollars. The fiscal impact statement shall include details concerning any increase or decrease in the inmate population.

          C. The amount estimated in a fiscal impact statement shall be included in the bill as a one-year appropriation from the general fund to the criminal justice special fund. If the New Mexico sentencing commission does not have sufficient information to project the fiscal impact, the fiscal impact statement shall state that there is insufficient information to estimate the fiscal impact.

          D. For each law enacted that results in a net increase in periods of imprisonment in adult correctional facilities, an appropriation shall be made from the general fund to the criminal justice special fund in an amount equal to the amount estimated in the fiscal impact statement.

          E. The corrections department shall annually provide the New Mexico sentencing commission with the average operating costs per inmate and the number of inmates in adult correctional facilities. The corrections department shall annually provide the New Mexico sentencing commission with admissions and release data for all inmates in adult correctional facilities. The judiciary shall annually provide the New Mexico sentencing commission with requested data necessary to prepare fiscal impact statements.

          F. As used in this section, "operating costs" means all costs other than capital outlay costs for state-operated adult correctional facilities and privately-operated adult correctional facilities.

     Section 2. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPECIAL FUND--CREATED.--

          A. The "criminal justice special fund" is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and bequests made to the fund. Income from the fund shall be credited to the fund. Money in the criminal justice special fund shall not revert to the general fund.

          B. Money in the criminal justice special fund shall be subject to appropriation by the legislature for criminal justice purposes, including operational costs of the corrections department, courts, district attorneys and the public defender department.

     Section 3. APPROPRIATION.--One hundred seventy-six thousand five hundred dollars ($176,500) is appropriated from the general fund to the New Mexico sentencing commission for expenditure in fiscal year 2010 to obtain necessary computer models, technology, research and data and to hire personnel for the preparation of fiscal impact statements as required by this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2010 shall revert to the general fund.

     Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2009.

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