Committee backs bill to let school districts receive surplus DPS vehicles and equipment

At a meeting of the Senate Economic Development Committee, members voted to report House Bill 18 51 favorably to the full Senate after the bill's senate sponsor explained it would expand access to surplus Department of Public Safety vehicles and law‑enforcement equipment for school districts in economically disadvantaged areas.

The sponsor said the bill would allow the Texas Facilities Commission to “transfer surplus motor vehicles and other law enforcement equipment from the Department of Public Safety to school districts in those areas,” with transfer “at a price or under other considerations agreed upon by the commission and the school district.” The sponsor added that “school districts that receive surplus property under this provision would be able to use it only for the performance of law enforcement duties by peace officers, school resource officers and security personnel as described in 37.081 of the education code.”

The bill also prohibits a receiving school district from selling transferred property before the second anniversary of the date it was received, the sponsor said, so the resources remain dedicated to school safety for a “reasonable period.” The committee recorded no public witnesses on the measure.

Senator Sparks moved that the committee report HB 18 51 favorably to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed. The transcript records the clerk calling the roll and states, “There being 4 ayes and 1 nay, HB 18 51 will be reported to the full senate with a favorable recommendation.” The roll-call lines in the record list senators answering during the vote, but the transcript does not unambiguously attribute the single recorded nay to a specific member.

The committee left the bill pending for the full Senate; no committee amendments or public testimony were taken during this hearing.