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

SPONSOR Martinez

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/14/2006

HB

SHORT TITLE Create Municipal Court Support Division

SB 18

ANALYST McSherry

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY06

FY07

$500.7

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)

FY06

FY07

FY08 3 Year

Total Cost

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

Total

$8

0

$8 Non-

recurring General

fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 18, “Create Municipal Court Support Division,” would appropriate $500,700 from

the general fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts for the purpose of funding a Munici-

pal Court Support Division within the Administrative Office of the Courts.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The AOC proposes the following budget of the proposed municipal court support division:

Salary for 1 Senior Attorney 123,200

Salary for 2 Auditors 163,500

Salary for Administrative Assistant 63,998

Senate Bill 18 – Page 2

Municipal Administrative Manuals 130,000

Travel 20,000

Total $500,698

Additional operational budget impact is estimated as $2 thousand/employee for furniture, com-

puter and supplies.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The AOC seeks the appropriation included in this bill at the direction of the Supreme Court to

assist municipal courts statewide.

The appropriation would be used to hire an attorney, two auditors and an administrative assistant

to provide support for all municipal judges throughout the state.

The Supreme Court has superintending control over all courts within the State of New Mexico

and seeks to create this division within the AOC. According to AOC, the proposed changes

would assist the Court in assuring that all municipal judges are aware of, and are following,

proper rules and procedures.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

The courts are participating in performance-based budgeting. It is unknown if enactment of this

bill would impact performance measures as they relate to judicial budgeting.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The enactment of this bill will enable the AOC to provide assistance to municipal courts state-

wide in administrative operations within these courts.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

If this bill is not enacted, the Supreme Court will be very limited in its ability to provide much

needed support for municipal courts.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

Does the AOC receive requests from the municipal courts for legal, administrative and

financial support currently. If so, does the AOC provide any support or referrals.

2.

What is the expected workload should the AOC receive the proposed appropriation and

associated staff.

3.

What range of staffing levels is held by the municipal courts in NM.

4.

How many municipal judges are attorneys.

5.

Have funding sources from municipalities been investigated for the purposes proposed in

this bill.

EM/mt