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Appropriations OKs Highway Patrol budget with one‑time purchases, taser replacement and vehicle funding shift
Summary
The Appropriations Committee gave Senate Bill 20‑11 a due‑pass as amended, approving the Highway Patrol budget with one‑time items for body armor, preliminary breath testers, road‑course resurfacing, handgun replacement and taser rotation; some costs were shifted to motor‑carrier electronic permit funds.
Representative Pyle presented the Highway Patrol budget (SB 20‑11). The House amendments moved several one‑time items from general fund to the Motor Carrier Electronic Permit Fund (money collected largely from commercial motor carriers), and other line items were adjusted to reflect updated fleet and equipment estimates.
Key one‑time items described by Pyle include: $158,000 for body armor replacement, $43,000 for preliminary breath testers, $260,000 for resurfacing the emergency vehicle operations road course, and $200,000 for handgun replacement (on a five‑year rotation). The committee also discussed a $500,000 addition to cover state fleet costs and $800,000 for taser replacement on rotation; committee members noted the patrol is at staffing capacity and no new FTEs were requested. Pyle said federal grant authority for in‑car router systems remains available to spend carryover funds.
Representative Murphy asked about troopers purchasing retired firearms; Pyle said there are resale processes. Committee members generally praised patrol work and approved the amendments. The committee adopted the House amendment and then voted a due‑pass on SB 20‑11 as amended; both recorded roll calls were 21‑0 with 2 not voting. Representative Pyle will carry the bill from Appropriations.
