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Committee advances $2 million recruitment pilot for law enforcement coaching amid split views
Summary
SB 13-69 would appropriate $2 million to DPS to pay coaching resource providers and administer a recruitment and retention grant program; the bill drew split committee votes and detailed concern about oversight, department capacity and use of funds for coaches rather than direct pay increases.
The committee considered SB 13-69, a $2 million appropriation to the Department of Public Safety to obtain coaching resource providers and administer a law enforcement recruitment and retention grant program.
Senator Kevin Payne said the intent is to give agencies tools and training to recruit and retain officers, noting other states have shown substantial increases after similar programs. Supporters argued recruitment coaching and programmatic help could raise long-term staffing levels at police and sheriff's offices.
Opponents and some committee members urged caution. Representative Collin criticized the bill as primarily funding "coaches" rather than direct recruitment tools or pay increases and said the appropriation lacked clarity on evaluation and administrative burden. Representative Abatea and others raised concerns that the Department of Public Safety was neutral on the bill and that DPS had not been provided additional administrative funding to run new grant programs.
Following debate, the committee vote tied and ultimately failed to pass a due-pass recommendation (7 ayes, 7 nays, 1 absent). The bill did not move forward from committee at this hearing.
