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

SPONSOR:	Beam		DATE TYPED:	02/25/03		HB	583
SHORT TITLE:		Expand NM Safe House Network				SB
					ANALYST:		Fox-Young

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04	FY03	FY04
	$140.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received From

Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Department of Health (DOH)

No Response

Administrative Office of the District Attorneys (AODA)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 583 appropriates $140.0 from the general fund to the Administrative Office of the District Attorneys (AODA) to expand the New Mexico safe house network. The network serves children who are alleged victims of physical or sexual abuse.

Significant Issues

AODA currently receives $160.0 for the safe house network and the Fifth Judicial District Attorney receives $105.0 to fund safe houses in Eddy, Lea and Chaves counties. These amounts are reflected by the HAFC operating budget recommendation. It is unclear whether a portion of this appropriation would be distributed to safe houses funded through the budget of the Fifth DA.

DOH reports that there are currently there are eight full safe house programs and one associate program, serving both rural and urban areas.

The Department of Children, Youth and Families (CYFD) notes that its Prevention and Intervention Division funds safe houses throughout the state using general funds administered through community-based services contracts.

DOH reports that thousands of children are interviewed each year at New Mexico safe houses at the request of CYFD or law enforcement. In 2001, there were 24,817 reports of child abuse, neglect and exploitation. Of these, 422 cases, or 17.2%, were substantiated to involve child sexual abuse. DOH indicates that the formal investigation process conducted through the safe house network enables the child to tell his/her story only once and that such forensic interviews and family advocacy help assure children get the best possible response from those agencies designed to protect them when physical or sexual abuse is occurring.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $140.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

JCF/njw