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Department of Public Safety urges funding for recruitment, ignition‑interlock rulemaking and DVS transactions
Summary
Deputy Commissioner Cassandra O'Hearn told the transportation conference committee that DPS’ top priority is an operating adjustment to pay core costs and avoid backsliding on services.
Deputy Commissioner Cassandra O'Hearn testified for the Department of Public Safety, summarizing DPS priorities for the conference committee and urging adoption of funding levels and authorities that agencies say they need to operate.
"The top priority this session for the department was our operating adjustment. It is critical as it pays employee salaries, rent, IT costs, and was proposed as a measured request," O'Hearn said, asking the committee to adopt the Senate position on that operating adjustment which follows the governor's recommended levels.
Why it matters: DPS manages state troopers, driver and vehicle services (DVS), traffic safety programs and other public‑safety functions. Funding and statutory authority changes affect staffing, public service availability and program enforcement.
Key DPS requests and concerns
- Operating adjustment: DPS told the conference it needs the operating adjustment to maintain employee salaries, rent and IT costs and prefers the Senate level aligned with the governor’s recommendation.
- Grant administration authority: DPS requested authority to use a set percentage of grant appropriations to administer grants, arguing this is necessary for oversight and to limit fraud, waste and abuse.
- State Patrol recruitment and academies: DPS asked conferees to fund trooper recruitment and hiring, and expressed a preference for funding two trooper academies per year going forward to sustain staffing levels.
- Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) items: DPS supported no‑fee transaction reimbursements for deputy registrars carried in both bills and asked the committee to adopt Senate rulemaking authority for the ignition‑interlock program. DPS opposed the House provision shifting blackout plate revenue out of existing accounts and recommended removing proposed DVS appointment/exam booking changes from the final bill, saying current exam availability is adequate and system changes risk reducing capacity.
- Traffic safety and seat belts on ATVs: DPS asked conferees to include a seat‑belt requirement for certain class 2 ATVs when operating on public right-of-way to reduce serious injury and fatalities.
Administrative and outreach items
O'Hearn thanked the chairs and committee staff, reiterated DPS's willingness to work with legislators and reminded members of an upcoming State Patrol Day at the Capitol.
Ending: DPS requested statutory and funding choices that sustain operations and allow the department to meet public‑safety obligations, and offered continued cooperation with conferees during reconciliation.
