Department of Public Safety outlines non‑law‑enforcement budget pressures; concealed‑weapons fund runs short

Gary Seifetz of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst Office and Commissioner Jess Anderson of the Department of Public Safety presented a broad overview of DPS’s budget and several program‑level concerns to the appropriations subcommittee.

Seifetz said DPS’s roughly $433 million total budget includes substantial federal funds and restricted accounts and noted volatility from previously received COVID‑era federal funding. He drew attention to several restricted accounts that merit committee review, including the concealed weapons permit account. Seifetz and Commissioner Anderson said a statutory provision that sweeps half of any year‑end balance from the concealed weapons restricted account into the suicide‑prevention fund, combined with declining permit application revenue, has left the account with a projected $1.8 million shortfall for Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) operations.

Commissioner Anderson said permit application volumes are down and the annual sweep of ending balances has transferred more than $7.4 million from the account to suicide‑prevention activities in recent years. He asked the committee to consider an appropriation to cover the shortfall and said lawmakers could also consider a statutory change to adjust the sweep formula or fee structure. Joe Brown, DPS finance director, explained the sweep moves 50% of any year‑end surplus (not 50% of fees collected) to the suicide program.

DPS described FY26 requests tied to EMS, which transferred to DPS in July 2024 from Health and Human Services. Commissioner Anderson said the department seeks $2.6 million one‑time and $759,000 ongoing for EMS priorities including two additional rural liaisons, a medical director contract adjustment, trauma registry software conversion to ImageTrend, background‑check system costs, licensing alignment, training and competitive grants for rural ambulance providers. Anderson said EMS had been “neglected” and described a listening tour that identified rural gaps in staffing and training.

Other items discussed included: VINE (victim notification) program funding for an antiquated system previously supported by federal grants; uninsured‑motorist identification database expansion to motorboats tied to HB 184 implementation; driver license operations and mobile ID; Highway Safety and Fire Marshal restricted accounts and potential reallocation options; the Aero Bureau’s search‑and‑rescue card program (possible elimination or replacement funding options); and a list of LFA budget‑reduction options and statutory changes recommended by the prior EOCJ interim committee.

Committee members asked DPS to return Friday with law‑enforcement program details and to work with the committee on policy changes where statutory sweeps or fee placements affect restricted accounts. Several legislators praised DPS’s recruitment and turnaround in trooper staffing and thanked the department for taking on EMS.