Panel advances DPSST $98.9 million budget, ratifies fee increases for private security

Panel action advances DPSST budget and fee bill

The Public Safety Subcommittee on Wednesday moved the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training’s (DPSST) $98,942,124 recommended budget and approved a companion fee-ratification bill that formalizes administrative fee increases for private security providers and private investigators, sending both measures to the full Ways and Means Committee.

Why it matters: funding, fees and performance targets

The Legislative Fiscal Office presented the recommended biennial budget and said the package represents a 1.7% increase from current service level in total funds and a 12.9% increase in general fund. The LFO told the subcommittee the majority of DPSST’s budget is supported from the criminal fines account and summarized staff and FTE counts across divisions.

Most important details

"The Department of Public Safety Standards and Training provides basic and ongoing training, certifies public safety officers, monitors compliance for professional standards," Mr. Robbins, a Legislative Fiscal Office analyst, told the committee as he walked through the recommendation and the nine-page agency report. LFO recommended a total biennial budget of $98,942,124 composed of $9,923,820 general fund, $81,050,492 other funds and $7,967,812 federal funds, with 184 positions and 182.75 FTE.

The subcommittee approved a dash 2 amendment reflecting the LFO numbers and unanimously moved the amended House Bill 5,032 to the Ways and Means full committee with a due-pass recommendation.

Key performance measures and training facility repairs

The LFO also recommended updates to two of DPSST’s key performance measures (KPMs). LFO said the two measures that track the difference between entrant and exit test scores are being lowered from a 40% target to a 25% target because incoming trainees are scoring higher initially. "The Legislative Fiscal Office recommends approval of the key performance measures and targets as proposed," Mr. Robbins said. The committee approved those KPM changes and the motion carried without objection.

Committee members and LFO staff also discussed a previously approved emergency board appropriation of $1,133,830 in general fund for structural repairs to DPSST’s Training Village building. LFO said that appropriation will be reverted in the current biennium and reappropriated in the 2025–27 biennium so the project can be completed.

Fee ratification and revenue estimate

The subcommittee then opened work on House Bill 5,033, the DPSST fee-ratification measure. LFO said the bill provides the enabling legislation required by statute to ratify agency fees adopted through administrative rule hearings and approved by the Department of Administrative Services between regular legislative sessions. LFO told the committee that the agency administratively increased fees for private security providers, private security entities and private investigators and that, based on a 12‑month average of licenses and certifications, DPSST anticipates those fee increases will generate approximately $1,000,000 in other funds in the 2025–27 biennium.

LFO said the introduced bill was amended (dash 1) to remove an acronym and to eliminate a fee that had been included in error. The subcommittee adopted the dash 1 amendment and voted to move House Bill 5,033 as amended to the Ways and Means full committee.

Other notable budget items

LFO noted a package (Package 801) that adds $500,000 in other funds to accommodate the private security and private investigator fee increases; that package is reflected in the agency budget pages the subcommittee reviewed. The agency’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area budget and the Public Safety Memorial Fund were presented as other‑funded items with no recommended modifications.

Procedure and next steps

All motions recorded in the transcript carried without objection; several members were noted as excused. The subcommittee assigned floor carriers for the measures — Senator Campos agreed to carry the budget on the Senate floor — and the measures will advance to full committee consideration in the legislative process.

The subcommittee closed the work session and staff previewed the next day's agenda, which included the primary budget bill for the Department of Emergency Management and two related policy bills.