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





SPONSOR: Mohorovic DATE TYPED: 02/18/99 HB 574
SHORT TITLE: Supreme Court Final Adjudication SB
ANALYST: O'Connell


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
NFI NFI



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



LFC files

Administrative Office of the Courts analysis

Corrections Department analysis



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Bill 574 would amend Section 31-20A-4 NMSA 1978 to provide that the Supreme Court shall issue a final adjudication within two years of the filing of the notice of appeal in capital felony cases. The bill also expands the list of aggravating circumstances considered in capital felony cases to include defendants who commit multiple murders and defendants convicted of capital felonies where the victims were less than 11 years of age.



Significant Issues



Passage of House Bill 574 could result in more capital felony convictions and could increase the workloads of the courts, district attorneys, public defenders, and the Corrections Department.







ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS



According to Administrative Office of the Courts analysis, two years may not be sufficient time for the Supreme Court to thoroughly consider and review capital felony appeals, due to amount of court and attorney hours required in these cases.



BOC/prr